Macao SAR embarking on new stage of development

In his speech commemorating the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland on Friday, President Xi Jinping spoke highly of the special administrative region's achievements in socioeconomic development, summarized its experience over the past five years since his last visit, expressed his hope for the SAR's future, and promised the central authorities' full support for Macao.

The world has witnessed tremendous changes over the past five years. The spillover effects of some burning regional issues have rippled across many countries and regions. But thanks to its firm upholding of the "one country, two systems" principle and the hard work of local people, Macao has largely withstood the external uncertainties and maintained steady progress in all fields with the strong support of the motherland.

With its gaming industry developing in a healthy and orderly manner in accordance with the law, the SAR has made new achievements in moderately diversifying its economic development and a number of key emerging industries are flourishing, and its tourism and leisure industries have grown in importance.

The Macao SAR government has continually improved the legal and institutional guarantees for the SAR's development, enabling it to actively participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the integrated development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Meanwhile, the "hard connectivity" of infrastructure and "soft connectivity" of rules and mechanisms between Macao and the mainland have been improved.

Local residents are benefiting from the development dividends, as the SAR government has more resources and larger space to improve people's livelihoods, and properly handle housing, medical care, education, elderly care and other people-friendly projects.

As the SAR has strengthened education on the Constitution and the Basic Law, and national security, public awareness of relevant issues has been markedly raised, helping the SAR resist external interference. At the same time the rights of Macao residents have been fully guaranteed.

On the world stage, with a stable economic and trade relationship being formed between the SAR and more countries and regions, Macao's international influence and popularity have been greatly enhanced. It has become a key hub for exchanges and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and, in this capacity it is playing a special role in promoting Belt and Road cooperation.

Macao has smoothly implemented the "one country, two systems" framework, which has laid a solid foundation for its development. By making the most of the momentum driving China's national rejuvenation, the SAR has the conditions and capability to achieve better development in the foreseeable future.

As President Xi urged, Macao should bear the bigger picture of national and world development in mind, and keep up with the trend of the times to further identify its own position in the national development strategies and raise its international profile. In the process, the SAR needs to continue to focus on promoting moderate economic diversification, improving its governance efficiency and maintaining social stability.

To ensure a brighter future, Macao should be united and focused under the banner of loving the country and Macao. And it should be more open and inclusive, and recruit talents from all over the world.

With the country's modernization at a critical stage, Xi called on the SAR government and Macao people to be brave in reform and innovation, and better leverage the advantages of "one country, two systems" to fully release Macao's development potential in the new era. In doing so, Macao will also be able to contribute more to the nation's rejuvenation.