The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is about to celebrate another glorious moment. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the restoration of the central government's exercise of sovereignty over Macao, a survey jointly conducted by CGTN and the Center for Macao Studies among 1,551 Macao respondents showed that the successful implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle in Macao is highly recognized. Respondents generally agree that this system is the best way to address such issues and maintain long-term prosperity and stability in the region.
In terms of satisfaction ratings for Macau's economic and social development, 93.9 percent of respondents agree that the Macau SAR government has done a good job in recent years. 91.9 percent said that the political rights and freedoms of Macau residents are fully protected, and 90.8 percent appreciated the significant improvement in the level of social security in Macau.
The satisfaction and happiness of Macau's respondents is a true reflection of the extraordinary economic and social progress Macau has made over the past 25 years. Data shows that Macau's GDP has grown 7.3 times from 1999 to 2023. In 2023, trade between mainland China and Macau reached $3.84 billion, 4.3 times more than before the handover. As of October this year, direct investment from mainland China to Macau reached $14.19 billion.
In the survey, 94.3 percent of respondents expressed that strong mainland support was crucial to Macau's prosperity and development. In addition, 92.7 percent of respondents said that Macau's ties with mainland China were increasingly close. With the authorization and support of China's central government, Macau has established stable economic, trade and cultural relations with more than 120 countries and regions. The number of international organizations and institutions of which Macau is a member has grown to more than 190, and it now enjoys visa-free or visa-on-arrival status with 147 countries and regions. 92.5 percent of respondents believe that Macau's unique advantage lies in its hinterland in the mother country and its connection to the world.
Macau's prosperity and stability are based on the "One Country" principle and secured when the unique strengths of the "Two Systems" are fully exploited. Macao, upon its return, has become a key window for the world to observe the success of the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. In the survey, 92.2 percent of respondents said that the application of this principle in Macau has been successful. The main reasons for this view include "The people of Macau govern Macau" with a high degree of autonomy corresponding to the reality of Macau; the central government's comprehensive support for Macau; and the patriotism and entrepreneurial spirit of Macau's people. A remarkable 93.9 percent of respondents expressed confidence in the implementation of the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and the concept of "The People of Macau Govern Macau".
When the country is doing well, Macau is doing even better. In a survey on the recognition of the concepts and achievements of China's path to modernization, respondents rated achievements in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, cultural development, social welfare and education with scores above 7 out of 10. In addition, 93 percent of respondents said that since Macau's integration into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, there has been an increase in visitor arrivals, facilitation of exchanges and greater attraction of investment. 93.8 percent of respondents believe that China's modernization offers great opportunities for Macau; 93.3 percent expressed confidence that the central government will maintain Macau's long-term prosperity and stability; and 92.6 percent are optimistic about Macau's future development.
CMG
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