Under the warm winter sun, the Golden Lotus Square is crowded with visitors, with the five-star red flag and the flag of the Macao Special Administrative Region fluttering in the wind, creating a festive atmosphere on the streets and alleys. December 20th is the 25th anniversary of Macau's return to the motherland.
Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, will go to Macau from December 18th to 20th to attend the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macau's return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the sixth government of the Macau Special Administrative Region, and inspect the Macau Special Administrative Region. This news has greatly inspired various sectors in Macau.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has always been concerned about the development of Macao and the well-being of Macao compatriots from the overall perspective of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It has continuously promoted the successful practice of "One Country, Two Systems" with Macao characteristics, leading Macao to write a wonderful chapter of advancing with the motherland and keeping pace with the times.
To achieve better self-development by integrating into the overall development of the country
The Macau Tower, standing tall on the South Bay waterfront, is a renowned landmark building both domestically and internationally. Looking around from here, the old city center to the north and Taipa Island to the south are engraved with the past of Macau; To the west, tall buildings stand tall in Hengqin, while to the east, the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge winds its way, outlining the present and future of the 'Lotus Land'.
In early 2009, it was also at the top of the tourist tower.   Under the impact of the international financial crisis, the structural problems in Macau's economy have become increasingly prominent.
How to tackle challenges and create new opportunities?
ascend a height and enjoy a distant view. During his inspection in Macau, Xi Jinping emphasized that in order for Macau's economy to achieve comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development, it must take the path of moderate and diversified development. This has pointed out the direction for the economic and social development of Macau. He also announced during a meeting with representatives from various sectors of Macau society that the central government has decided to approve the development of Hengqin and will fully consider Macau's need for moderate and diversified economic development during the development process.
In December 2012, after assuming the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping left Beijing for his first inspection and came to Guangdong, once again stepping onto the hot land of Hengqin. He encouraged Hengqin to make contributions to the cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in terms of institutional and mechanism innovation.   He emphasized, "Hengqin has inherent advantages in Guangdong Macau cooperation. We need to strengthen policy support, enrich the connotation of cooperation, expand cooperation space, develop emerging industries, and promote more dynamic economic development in Macau
 
Hengqin, which used to have lush banana forests and few farms, is now surrounded by high-rise buildings and full of vitality, becoming a near water platform for the diversified development of Macau's industries and serving as an active platform for the innovative practice of "One Country, Two Systems". As of September 2024, the total number of Macau enterprises in the cooperation zone has reached 6461, and the number of Macau residents has reached 16539, maintaining rapid growth. Here, single license plate cars can be seen everywhere in Macau. Many people who come to Hengqin for the first time sigh, "The deep coordinated development of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao has' shone from a dream into reality '
The wind in the South China Sea is rising, and hundreds of boats are racing against each other.
The article on developing Hengqin is a shining example of the thriving development of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. In this major national strategy personally planned, deployed, and promoted by General Secretary Xi Jinping, Macau has been identified as one of the four major central cities, alongside Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen as the core engine of regional development. This provides a rare opportunity, inexhaustible driving force, and vast space for the development of Macau.
In 2017, when General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected Hong Kong, the construction of the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge was in full swing. When General Secretary Xi Jinping met with the then Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Cui Shi'an, who had come to attend the celebration, he asked with concern, "Did you come by boat?" Cui Shi'an replied, "Yes, it takes more than an hour by boat." General Secretary Xi Jinping said, "When the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge is repaired, it can be shortened to half an hour
On October 23, 2018, the world's longest sea crossing bridge, the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge, was opened. General Secretary Xi Jinping came specially to personally announce the opening of the bridge.
Over the past six years, this bridge connecting Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau has seen continuous traffic and passenger flow, becoming a new economic and trade channel and logistics artery in the Greater Bay Area. In 2024, the total number of inbound and outbound passengers at the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge and Hengqin ports both exceeded 20 million, setting a new historical high.
Today, on the satellite map of the world night view, from Guangzhou to Shenzhen and then to Hong Kong and Macau, it is one of the most brightly lit areas. The young Macao Special Administrative Region shines brightly in this magnificent painting.
On November 12, 2018, during a meeting with a visiting delegation from various sectors in Hong Kong and Macau to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, General Secretary Xi Jinping said with deep emotion, "During my work in Fujian, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, I personally planned and promoted a large number of cooperation projects between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macau. After working at the central government in 2007, I was in charge of Hong Kong and Macau work and gained a comprehensive understanding of the situation. During this process, I made many friends from Hong Kong and Macau
"For Hong Kong and Macao, 'one country, two systems' is the biggest advantage, national reform and opening up is the biggest stage, and the implementation of national strategies such as jointly building the' the Belt and Road 'and the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area is a new major opportunity."
  Under the strong support of the central government and the mainland of China, Macau vividly interprets the saying 'as long as the path is right, the policies are good, the body is agile, and the hearts of the people are united, a grand performance can also be performed on the table'.
Sincerely thank President Xi Jinping and the central government for their warm concern and strong support for the development of various undertakings in Macau, "said He Yicheng, the Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region. Over the past 25 years since its return to the motherland, the country has always been the strongest backing for Macau to maintain prosperity and stability, and has always provided the greatest opportunities for Macau's development.
In July this year, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made a systematic deployment to further deepen reform and promote Chinese path to modernization, emphasizing the need to give play to the advantages of the "one country, two systems" system, and improve the mechanism for Hong Kong and Macao to play a better role in the country's opening up.
Cen Haohui stated that President Xi Jinping's important instructions for the future development of Macau have further pointed out the direction and provided fundamental guidance for us to continue promoting the great cause of "One Country, Two Systems", giving us full confidence, determination, and confidence to unite and lead all sectors of Macau society to continue their struggle.
The tide surges over the vast sea and sky, and the wind is strong enough to set sail.
Now climbing to the top of the tourist tower, what you see is a thriving Macau. The construction of "One Center, One Platform, One Base" (a world tourism and leisure center, a business cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese speaking countries, and an exchange and cooperation base with Chinese culture as the mainstream and diverse cultures coexisting) has been solidly promoted; The moderate and diversified development of the economy has shown initial results, and emerging industries are thriving; Participation in the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" and the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area have made positive progress
Being adept at seizing the opportunities brought by the country's major development strategies and a series of policy supports, taking advantage of the situation, and achieving better development in integrating into the overall national development, "General Secretary Xi Jinping's full affirmation and earnest encouragement have greatly inspired the enthusiasm of all sectors in Macau.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has known Macau for a long time.   The beautiful impression left by this peaceful city on General Secretary Xi Jinping is that it has many stories and is full of joy and happiness, which makes him remember and cherish it at all times.
One year later, the central government issued a State Council decree, which decided to clarify the sea area of the Macao Special Administrative Region to 85 square kilometers. The relevant land boundaries were clarified, and the regional area expanded several times, thus opening a new historical page of development towards the sea.
In December 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the fifth government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. He put forward four hopes for the new SAR government: firstly, to keep pace with the times and further enhance the governance level of the Special Administrative Region; Secondly, we must persist in exploring and innovating, further promoting sustained and healthy economic development; Thirdly, we must adhere to the principle of putting people first and further ensure and improve people's livelihoods; The fourth is to adhere to inclusiveness and mutual assistance, further promoting social harmony and stability.
The central government attaches great importance to the prosperity and stability of Macao, always cares about the well-being of Macao compatriots and the development of Macao, the motherland has always been a strong backing for Macao to maintain long-term prosperity and stability, and fully supports the Macao Special Administrative Region to fully leverage its own advantages and characteristics and strive to create a new situation of 'One Country, Two Systems' practice with Macao characteristics. When listening to the reports of previous chief executives, General Secretary Xi Jinping repeatedly emphasized this.
In December 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the special status and role of Macau in promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries, as well as the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, during his state visit to Portugal; In April 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again stated during a meeting with the President of Portugal at the Great Hall of the People, "Macao has become a bridge for long-term friendly cooperation between China and Portugal
 
I am very pleased that the construction of the Sino Portuguese platform has turned from concept to reality, from blueprint to entity. General Secretary Xi Jinping is pleased to see the dazzling array of characteristic products from Portuguese speaking countries and the comprehensive professional facilities planned.
The thoughts and feelings of teenagers are the concerns in General Secretary Xi Jinping's heart.
In December 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the Hengqin Campus of the University of Macau and was invited to participate in a themed salon on "Chinese Traditional Culture and Contemporary Youth". Han Xingyun, a student at the University of Macau who has been studying traditional Chinese music since childhood, was the first to speak about her confusion: "How can young people in Macau promote and develop ethnic music
In response, General Secretary Xi Jinping shared his feelings about watching the cultural evening party celebrating the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland the night before, encouraging that "the performance quality of the Macao Chinese Orchestra is very high" and "Macao has a soil of traditional Chinese music, and contemporary young people should have cultural consciousness and confidence".
I am also a passionate supporter and loyal learner of Chinese culture, "General Secretary Xi Jinping said of his learning experience: reading Chinese cultural classics since his youth and developing the habit of" opening papers is beneficial ". From the youth story of General Secretary Xi Jinping, Han Xingyun and her classmates found the answer to drawing nourishment and strength from China's excellent traditional culture, and building cultural confidence.
Five years later, the children of Haojiang High School Affiliated Talent School in Macau wrote a letter to the General Secretary, expressing their understanding of "motherland" and their wish for Grandpa Xi to come back to Macau again.
After replying to the children's letters, on December 19, 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Yingcai School as scheduled to observe a Chinese history open class with the theme of "One Country, Two Systems" and Macao. After the open class, the General Secretary walked up to the students and kindly encouraged them, "As a Chinese, we must understand the history of our nation
In that open class, 15-year-old Ni Kelan listened attentively to General Secretary Xi Jinping's words like a spring breeze and rain, deeply inspired. In subsequent creative design competitions, she incorporated elements such as flying dragons, cranes, and green landscapes into her works multiple times. Now, she is studying at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and continues to pursue her dream of design art.
I will remember Grandpa Xi's teachings and design more and better works to showcase the understanding and inheritance of our country's history and culture among young people in Macau, "said Ni Kelan.
The happiness and well-being of the people of Macau touch the heart of General Secretary Xi Jinping.
Hao Jing Garden, Shek Pai Wan Public Housing, Hei Sha Wan Government Comprehensive Service Center... Over the years, no matter how busy his schedule is, he always goes to visit ordinary residents and learn about livelihood projects in Macau. "From your voices, we can judge whether Macau is prosperous and developing.
General Secretary Xi Jinping watched carefully, listened attentively, and asked specific questions. When he learned that since its return to the motherland, the Macao Special Administrative Region government has made efforts to improve people's livelihoods and deeply implemented the concept of "co construction and sharing, benefiting the people" in areas such as social welfare, social security, medical and health care, and public housing, he was very pleased.
It was as if a window had been opened in Macau, allowing me to see the warm scene of Macau residents living and working in peace and contentment. General Secretary Xi Jinping's words were vivid, full of concern and concern for over 600000 Macau compatriots.
In his reply to the Elderly Volunteer Group at the Yijun Center of the Macau Neighborhood Association, General Secretary Xi Jinping wrote with deep emotion, "Seeing your letter, I remember the scene of meeting everyone in Macau ten years ago. I am very happy to learn that you have been enthusiastic about public welfare and have a fulfilling and happy life after retirement
Drops in the heart, branches and leaves are close to emotions.
To enable residents to better share the fruits of development, improve their quality of life, and increase their happiness index
The purpose of adhering to development is to create a better life for the general public, adopt more just, reasonable, and inclusive institutional arrangements, and ensure that the general public shares the fruits of development
……
  With the care and support of General Secretary Xi Jinping, a happy and peaceful social scene is unfolding in Macau, where residents have their own homes, the sick have their own doctors, the elderly have their own care, and the young have their own education.
The practice of 'One Country, Two Systems' with Macao's characteristics will definitely achieve greater success
Looking down from the sky, the Macao Peninsula is like a lotus flower stretching over the vast expanse of blue waves at the mouth of the the Pearl River. The gene that flows through the stems and leaves of this' Lotus City 'from generation to generation and never stops is' patriotism and love for Australia'.
The vast number of Macao compatriots have a patriotic tradition, a strong sense of national identity, belonging, and national pride, which is the most important reason for the successful implementation of 'One Country, Two Systems' in Macao. General Secretary Xi Jinping highly affirmed this core value that Macao society has long adhered to.
In 2009, Macau implemented its constitutional responsibility as stipulated in Article 23 of the Basic Law and formulated the Macau Law on Safeguarding National Security; The Special Administrative Region Committee for Safeguarding National Security, chaired by the Chief Executive, was established in 2018; Establish National Security Affairs Advisor and Technical Advisor in 2021; Holding the 'National Security Education Exhibition' for 7 consecutive years
The Macao Special Administrative Region has always prioritized the protection of national sovereignty, security, and development interests. The legal system for safeguarding national security is constantly improving, and the sense of patriotism among residents and young people is increasing.
The government of the Special Administrative Region and people from all walks of life deeply understand that the future and destiny of Macao are closely linked to the motherland. They uphold a strong sense of national consciousness and patriotism, and integrate patriotism and love for Macao, "said General Secretary Xi Jinping.
On May 21, 2023, the first space science satellite jointly developed by mainland China and Macao, "Macao Science-1", was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. 18 faculty and student representatives from Macau University of Science and Technology, who participated in satellite development, were filled with excitement and immediately wrote a letter to General Secretary Xi Jinping to report the good news.
From between the lines, I feel your enthusiasm and responsibility for dedicating yourself to the national science and technology cause and the construction of a strong aerospace country. "In the reply, General Secretary warmly congratulated the teachers and students, and warmly encouraged everyone to continue to inherit the fine tradition of patriotism and love for Macao, and make new contributions to the successful practice of" One Country, Two Systems "in Macao.
Passing on emotions with diligence and perseverance leads to far-reaching goals.
'One country' is the root, deep roots enable lush leaves; 'One country' is the foundation, and only with a solid foundation can one prosper. The 'One Country, Two Systems' policy is like the evergreen green trees in Macau, full of vitality and energy. At the beginning of the return to the motherland, Mr. Ma Wanqi, a well-known figure in Macau, expressed his feelings.
Nowadays, the evergreen tree of "One Country, Two Systems" has deeply rooted in the fertile soil of Macau, with deep roots and lush leaves, full of vitality.
After the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the constitutional order based on the Constitution and the Basic Law of Macao has been firmly established, and the governance system has become increasingly perfect. Adhering to the principle of "one country" and making good use of the benefits of "two systems", Macao has developed into an internationally renowned city with abundant resources, smooth governance, and harmonious people, creating the best development situation in history.
——After the return, the gross domestic product of Macau increased from 51.9 billion Macau dollars in 1999 to 379.5 billion Macau dollars in 2023;
——From 1999 to 2023, the per capita gross domestic product of Macau increased from 15000 US dollars to 69000 US dollars;
——The median monthly working income of the employed population in Macau has increased from approximately MOP 5000 at the beginning of the handover to approximately MOP 20000 in 2023;
——In 2023 and 2024, Macau was selected as the "Best Asian Conference City" and "Best Conference Business City" respectively due to its outstanding performance in the exhibition industry.
Always accurately grasp the correct direction of 'One Country, Two Systems'; Always strengthen the mission and responsibility of "One Country, Two Systems"; Always strengthen the social and political foundation of 'One Country, Two Systems'.
The successful practice in Macau tells us that as long as we firmly believe in and practice 'one country, two systems', its vitality and superiority will be fully demonstrated, "General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out.
Without interruption, the future is promising.
Once upon a time, Macau was a traveler who had experienced many hardships and was waiting to return home. A poet from Macau wrote in a poem called "The Moving Island", full of sadness: "The flowing water and the island, countless anxious eyes, depict the tears of the waves," expressing the unease of the wanderer.
25 years ago, the wanderer returned to the embrace of his motherland, and from then on, Macau wrote the ever-changing "Haojiang Story".
In the new era and new journey, the "Haojiang Story" in the prosperous era will become even more exciting.
General Secretary Xi Jinping's warm and powerful words convey the power of courage and perseverance, and guide the stable and far-reaching development of the "One Country, Two Systems" cause.
Macao, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland, will open a new chapter in its history. With the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the central government, the full support of the Chinese people, and the unity and joint efforts of the vast number of Macao compatriots, we will surely create a better future for Macao and make new and greater contributions to comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese style modernization!