Chinese leaders: Crisis also means opportunity

Vice President Xi Jinping joined panel discussions with lawmakers from Hong Kong and Macao respectively.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (front L), who is also a  member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau  of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee,  attends the panel discussion of deputies to the Second  Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from  south China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,  in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2009.  (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

Xi said the governments of both Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SAR) have taken prompt and effective measures to counter the impact of global financial crisis.

He said lawmakers from Hong Kong and Macao have played a positive role in the country's political affairs since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over the two regions in 1997 and 1999 respectively.

Xi called on the lawmakers to fully exercise their functions and powers with focus on the country's measures of maintaining economic growth and social stability.