By LI YONGJIE

Since its return to the motherland two decades ago, the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has practiced the principle of “one country, two systems,” made great strides in economic development, and achieved prosperity and stability.

Some scholars have noted that the comprehensive and accurate implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems” has been the foundation and guarantee of all of Macao’s achievements. The continuous advancement of the Belt and Road (B&R) initiative and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) have ushered in new development opportunities for Macao.

“From the day of its return, Macao has been re-incorporated into the national governance system,” said Li Xiaobing, executive director of the Research Center of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao Law at Nankai University. The Constitution and the Macao Basic Law together form the constitutional basis of Macao as a special administrative region directly under the central government.

Over the past two decades, Macao’s humanities and social sciences have made great progress. Ng Chi Leong, chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Foundation, noted that this is specifically reflected in three aspects. First, research has increased significantly in both volume and level. Second, the local research team has grown into the leading force in Macao studies. Finally, Macao studies have gradually become local studies, providing intellectual resources and theoretical support for the practice of “one country, two systems.”

Ye Nong, director of the Macao Studies Institute at Jinan University, also shed light on the progress of the humanities and social sciences in Macao over the past two decades. Academics have comprehensively and extensively discussed the historic political system changes concerning Macao’s return to the motherland and the transfer of political power. In addition, in light of the evolution of China, the world and human civilization, we have deepened our understanding of the value and significance of Macao, and the relationship between Macao and the Chinese mainland has been strengthened. Moreover, an active academic environment has gradually come into being, which has spawned a great deal of academic research and cultivated academic talent.

The construction of the GBA has been a transformation and upgrading of regional cooperation and the reform and development of the Pearl River Delta region over the past 20 years. It has also been a new attempt to facilitate a new pattern of comprehensive opening up under new historical conditions. In addition, it has enriched and developed “one country, two systems” in the Hong Kong and Macao SARs. Scholars said the GBA has ushered in new development opportunities for Macao.

As a world-class tourism center, Macao needs to consider how to better show Chinese culture to tourists from all over the world and build itself into a window to promote Chinese culture to the world. In addition, Macao can promote the spread of Chinese culture to Portuguese-speaking countries through the China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex, Ye said.

The SAR’s unique political advantage of “one country, two systems” and the advantages of a free economic system make Macao a special and distinct participant in B&R construction. Li said that in the implementation of the B&R, the Macao SAR can play an active role, supporting and assisting the Chinese mainland’s enterprises in going global. In the process of strengthening the construction of a world tourism and leisure center and the China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex, Macao will realize a diverse transformation of its economy, forming a closer and more effective cooperation with the Chinese mainland, which will complement each other’s advantages and achieve mutual benefit.