Chinese President Hu Jintao(R) shakes hands with Donald Tsang, the chief executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in Beijing on March 18, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, March 18, 2008 -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday met with the chief executives of the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SAR) and urged them and their governments to further promote economic and social development in the two regions.

Chinese President Hu Jintao(R) shakes hands with Edmund Ho Hau Wah, the chief executive of Macao Special Administrative Region, in Beijing on March 18, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

Hong Kong SAR's Donald Tsang and Macao SAR's Edmund Ho Hau Wah, attended the just-concluded annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) as non-voting delegates.

During his meeting with Tsang, Hu acknowledged that Hong Kong has maintained good momentum in development, which is the result of the common efforts of the Hong Kong SAR government and all sectors of Hong Kong.

"The central government believes you and the Hong Kong SAR government will do your utmost to make the region strong and prosperous and govern the region according to the law," he said.

Hu urged the Hong Kong SAR government to make progress in economic development, improve people's livelihood, promote democracy and harmony and make further contributions to the successful practice of the "one country, two systems" policy in Hong Kong.

During his meeting with Ho, the president said it is a common aspiration of people in Macao to maintain the region's development momentum and deal properly with "new situations" and "new problems" the region faces in its development.

Hu said he hoped that the Macao SAR government will govern according to the law and unite the people in Macao to press ahead with economic development, maintain social stability and strive for a better future of Macao.

Vice President Xi Jinping was present at the meetings.