Macau's Chief Executive-elect Sam Hou-fai has vowed to diversify the SAR's economy, a day after receiving his formal appointment letter from Beijing.

He also said on Saturday that he was deeply honoured for his official appointment as the chief executive for the sixth term of the Macau government.

President Xi Jinping met Sam, a former Macau top judge, in Beijing on Friday, with the Chinese leader saying the central government fully endorses and trusts the incoming chief executive.

Speaking to reporters upon returning, Sam pledged to accurately and comprehensively implement One Country, Two Systems, safeguard national security, and support growth of its economy.

“Economic diversification is an issue of great concern to President Xi and central authorities. We must continue to create conditions on this front in the future, and steadily promote economic diversification," Sam said.

With the new government set to be sworn in on December 20, Sam said he aimed to hand in a list of the proposed governing team to Beijing within a month.

He won 394 votes from a 400-strong election committee in the CE election on October 13.