A quarter century after the former Portuguese colony was made a Chinese territory, Macau’s economic boundaries with the mainland are being blurred.

Seated in the audience at Macau's Dom Pedro V Theatre in the 1970s, 16-year-old Miguel de Senna Fernandes understood not a word of the "strange language" spoken on stage -- but right away he was mesmerised.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday inaugurated a new Macau leader and called for the gambling hub to diversify its economy as the former colony marked 25 years since being returned to China. The Chinese president on Friday emphasised the need for a diversified economy as he laid out "four hopes" for Sam's administration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over a day of celebrations in Macau and inaugurate the city's new leader on Friday to mark 25 years since the former colony was returned to China.Friday's festivities will be centred around the inauguration of Sam Hou-fai,

China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Macau on Wednesday to mark a quarter century of Beijing's rule over the former Portuguese enclave, and is likely during his three-day visit to urge further diversification from its casino industry.

China's President Xi Jinping said Macau should "keep up with the trend of the times" and play a bigger role on the international stage, as he urged the world's biggest gambling hub to never be complacent and show "courage" to change and innovate.

“With the [city’s] gaming industry developing in a healthy and orderly manner in accordance with the law, Macau, as a world-class tourism and leisure centre, continues to offer new services, and major emerging industries are booming,” stated Mr Xi.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday presided over the inauguration of new Macau leader Sam Hou-fai on 25th anniversary of colony's return to Chinese rule.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is in Macau for events marking 25 years since the city was returned to China from Portugal. Xi hailed Macau’s development since 1999, saying the city’s development potential is being unleashed and the special administrative region has a bright future.

Xi Jinping has called for Macau to prioritise economic diversification as its “first” hope as he wrapped up a three-day tour of the Chinese gambling hub to mark the 25th anniversary of its handover from Portugal.

Chinese president Xi Jinping on Friday presided over the inauguration of new Macau leader Sam Hou-fai, capping off a three-day visit as the former Portuguese colony marks 25 years since being returned to China. Sam, who served as president of Macau’s ...

adding that Macau must convince China of its usefulness. Fernandes, whose plays are performed three nights a year to an audience of around 1,000, said he was well aware that Patua culture "will be ...