The Vice President, Mr Xi Jinping, visited the Community Service Centre run by the Macao General Neighbourhood Unions Association this afternoon, in the company of the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, to learn more about the lives of the elderly and young people in Macao.

The Vice President praised the Association as a major patriotic and philanthropic organisation that has made great contributions to the improvement of livelihood and enrichment of cultural life in Macao.

He also pointed out that Macao’s future would not only depend on the SAR Government’s work, but would also require the mobilisation of various resources at the community level, adding that he hoped the Association would continue to support the SAR Government.

The Vice President first toured the Community Service Centre’s elderly day care facility and chatted with some senior citizens. He also tried his hand at handicrafts with the elders and wrote a Lunar New Year lucky message for Macao, wishing the community an auspicious year.

Later Mr Xi visited the building’s youth centre for arts and sports training, and was greeted by the teachers and students there.

Upon leaving the Community Service Centre, Mr Xi gave a piano and two massage chairs to the centre as a token of goodwill.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Vice President went on a tour of the sports facilities at the Macao East Asian Games Dome and watched the training of local table-tennis players and martial artists.

Mr Xi said despite Macao’s small population, the SAR could focus on its major strength in martial arts and table tennis to promote sports development in the territory.