President Xi Jinping's recent visit to the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has set the stage for an exciting future under the \"One Country, Two Systems\" framework. 🏮✨
From Wednesday to Friday, Xi engaged in 18 events, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, inaugurating the SAR's sixth-term government, and touring the region to get a firsthand look at its progress.
Recognizing Macao's Remarkable Growth 📈
During Friday's ceremony, Xi praised the success of the \"One Country, Two Systems\" policy tailored for Macao. He highlighted the region's impressive economic and social advancements, noting that Macao's GDP skyrocketed from 51.9 billion patacas (~$6.23 billion) in 1999 to a whopping 379.5 billion patacas in 2023. The per capita GDP also soared, reaching around $70,000!
The tourism boom is another standout achievement, with inbound tourists increasing from 7.74 million to 28.213 million over the same period. Fiscal reserves have grown from 13 billion patacas to over 600 billion patacas, fueling Macao's leap-forward development.
Enhancing Residents' Well-being 🌟
Macao isn't just about numbers. Education is now free from kindergarten through senior high school, and the average life expectancy has risen from 77.9 years in 1999 to 83.1 years in 2023. These improvements highlight how Macao is prioritizing the well-being of its residents.
Strengthening Governance 🏛️
Since 2009, Macao SAR has implemented legislation to safeguard national security as outlined in Article 23 of the Macao SAR Basic Law. This move has reinforced the region's constitutional order, ensuring stability and confidence in Macao's governance.
Xi's commendations have instilled greater confidence in Macao's development path, inspiring the region to continue building and thriving. With visionary leadership and robust growth, Macao is well on its way to a prosperous future. 🚀🌏
