December 20, 2024 is the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to China. To celebrate the return, Macao will hold a series of celebration activities, including the inauguration of the sixth government and the 2024 Magic Tribute Hall. According to the Macao Special Administrative Region website on December 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the sixth government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and inspect the Macao Special Administrative Region. On December 17, Liu Shaoman, director of the interview department of Xinhua Macau News, wrote that President Xi Jinping's visit to Macau is exciting and inspiring. It is an affirmation and encouragement of the achievements made by Macau since its return, and it is also a full affirmation of the practical achievements of "one country, two systems".
Before the reunification, Macao's infrastructure construction lagged behind, but now, light rail, high-grade highways in all directions, tourist towers, China-Portugal complex and other landmark buildings. As a city built on the sea, the bridge is a link between Macao and other regions for connectivity and integrated development. Today, the world's longest cross-sea bridge, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, crosses the Lingdingyang Bay, connecting Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao closely, integrating Macao into the "one-hour economic circle" of the Greater Bay Area, expanding broader market and development opportunities for Macao enterprises, and promoting the leap-forward development of Macao's economy. Macao's gross domestic product (GDP) has increased from 51.9 billion patacas at the beginning of the reunification to nearly 379.5 billion patacas. By the end of 2023, Macao residents' total deposits exceeded 700 billion patacas, an increase of more than eight times compared with 1999. In addition, the financial sector with Macao characteristics has continued to make great efforts, with deepening connectivity with the financial markets of Hengqin and other cities in the Greater Bay Area, and continuous optimization of cross-border financial services. As of the end of June 2023, Macao's financial assets have exceeded 2,700 billion patacas, and various financial indicators have risen steadily.
For a long time, Macao's cultural undertakings have flourished and attracted people from all over the world with its unique humanistic charm. The vicissitudes of history of hundreds of years have formed the cultural heritage of Macao, which combines Chinese and Western aspects and blends ancient and modern. The "Historic City of Macau", which retains the Portuguese and Chinese styles, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. On November 28, Macao University of Science and Technology held an academic seminar on "Achievements and Experiences of Macao's Cultural Development since the Return of the Motherland", and selected 25 major events in the development of cultural undertakings since the return of the motherland, showing the rapid progress of the development of cultural undertakings since the return of Macao. It is worth mentioning that patriotic education is the top priority in the development of Macao's cultural undertakings. In 2006, the Legislative Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region legally clarified the goal of patriotic education. At the same time, Kung Chi-ming, Secretary for Education and Youth Development of the Macao SAR Government, said that "the core values of patriotism and love for Macao occupy a dominant position in Macao society." Today, all schools in Macau fly the national flag. The Basic Law of Macao is taught at all stages of education in primary and secondary schools, and the National Constitution and the Basic Law of Macao are listed as compulsory courses in universities.
In addition, the Macao SAR government has made efforts to build Macao into a world tourism and leisure center and promote diversified economic development. After the return, Macao's tourism industry has developed rapidly, with the total number of visitors to Macao increasing from 6.6 million in 1999 to 39.4 million in 2019, and the recovery speed has accelerated significantly in 2024, and the first seven months have recovered to 82.9% in the same period in 2019. According to a survey conducted by the China Tourism Academy in the first quarter of 2024, Macao was ranked as the most satisfactory destination for mainland outbound tourists.
Twenty-five years ago, the Chinese and Portuguese governments held a handover ceremony at the Macao Cultural Center, during which the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao. Over the past 25 years, the great initiative of "one country, two systems" has been fully implemented in Macao. Riding on the high-speed train of China's development, Macao has achieved a magnificent transformation into a modern international city, made remarkable achievements in the areas of people's livelihood, economy and culture, and presented a shining business card to the world.