President Xi Jinping meets HK Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Sunday during the sidelines of the APEC leaders meeting in Lima, Peru. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping urged on Sunday that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should firmly safeguard national unity and maintain social stability.

Xi made the remarks after hearing the report of Hong Kong's recent situation and the work of Hong Kong SAR government, made by the HK Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, during the sidelines of the APEC leaders meeting in Lima, capital of Peru.

The central government fully recognizes the work of Leung and the SAR government, Xi said, adding that Leung should lead the administrative team to continue making comprehensive measures and widely gathering social consensuses.

Xi also urged Leung to focus on the economic development and the improvement of the people's livelihoods.