Wen Hongyan, Mao Lei, Wang Yao, Cheng Long, People’s Daily
Since its return to the motherland 20 years ago, Macao has written a glorious chapter of “one country, two systems”. Under the support of the central government and its inland counterparts, the city, which covers only 30 square kilometers, has forged ahead, creating the best development prospect in history and displaying the great advantages and vitality of the “one country, two systems” principle.
The State Council, China’s cabinet, on Dec. 1 appointed principal officials of the fifth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the prosecutor general of the Public Prosecutions Office, based on nominations by Ho Iat Seng, the fifth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR.
The principle “Macao people governing Macao” has been fully and faithfully implemented in Macao and the city has enjoyed a high degree of autonomy since the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.
Two decades on, the Macao SAR has successfully held fourchief executive elections, and fiveLegislative Assembly elections in accordance with the law, which genuinely reflects the policy of Macao people governing Macao with patriots playing the principal role in governance.
Macao has selected its own representatives to the National People’s Congress (NPC) every five years. Currently, there are 12 Macao deputies to the NPC, and 37 Macao members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
The majority of Macao compatriots, as members of the family of the motherland, have the democratic right to participate in the management of state affairs. As the owners of Macao, they bear the historical responsibility of managing and building the region.
Before Macao’s returning, for hundreds of years, Chinese participation in Macao’s political affairs was almost zero, and it was not until 1997 that the first Chinese secured a post in the Macao government.
Fernando Chui Sai-on, the incumbent chief executive of the Macao SAR, who served in the Macao SAR since Macao’s return to the motherland, recalled that the young Macao SAR government started to operate having almost no completegovernance experience, and the motivation for the officials to shoulder their responsibility was the fact that they were the masters of their own affairs.
Under the authorization and support of the central government, Macao’s foreign exchanges continue to expand and its international influence keeps increasing, said Fu Ziying, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR.
A total of 144 countries and regions have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to the holders of Macao (SAR) passport. Besides, Macao has hosted the Ministerial Conference of the Forum on Trade and Economic Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) for five consecutive times, playing a unique role as a service platform for Sino-Portuguese business cooperation.
China’s Macao is calmly and confidently facing the world and integrating into the world, said Fu.
“The longer the return of Macao, the stronger sense of identification with the motherland we have,” said Zhen Ruiquan, president of the Jiangmen Township Association of Macao, who added that the country’s help to Macao is remembered by the people.
Talking about the country’s assistance and support to Macao, the Macao people always have a lot to say. For instance, the expansion of individual travel to Macao has brought great benefits to Macao and rapidly revitalizedthe region’s economy.
When the SARS virusswept the region, Hong Kong and Macao were prioritized in terms of drug supply. In 2017, Macao was attacked by Typhoon Hato, a strong wind unseen in decades. The PLA troops stationed in Macao fought for days and nights to clean up the flooded streets, and a large number of relief supplies and food from the mainland were continuously transported to Macao through Zhuhai.
When the motherland needs assistance, compatriots in Macao are always ready to lend a helping hand. After a severe earthquake hit Wenchuan of southwest China’s Sichuan province in 2008, the Macao SAR government established a coordination team to support post-quake reconstruction, and allocated 5 billion patacas ($624 million) for rehabilitation. Besides, the Macao Foundation allocated 500 million patacas to support a total of 106 projects.
Liu Yunchang, deputy director of the Public Security Police Force of Macao, saida flag-raising ceremony is held at 8:00 a.m. at the Golden Lotus Plaza every day.It is organized by the Public Security Forces of Macao, and participatedby many citizens and tourists.
As Chinese President Xi Jinping said, “one country” is like the roots of a tree, and for a tree to grow tall and luxuriant, its roots must run deep and strong.
Comprehensive and accurate understanding and implementation of the “one country, two systems” policy, firmly grasp of the core essence of the “one country, two systems”, and a clear-cut defense of national sovereignty, security, and development interests have become a precious experience of Macao’s successful practice of”one country, two systems”principle.
“一国两制”成功实践铸就澳门辉煌
人民日报记者 温红彦 毛磊 王尧 程龙
20年，时光之笔在澳门书写“一国两制”传奇，在中央政府和祖国内地的大力支持下，澳门同胞在30平方公里的小城挥洒自如，开创了历史上最好的发展局面，尽显“一国两制”的巨大优越性和强大生命力。
今年12月1日，根据澳门特别行政区第五任行政长官贺一诚的提名，国务院任命了澳门特别行政区第五届政府主要官员和检察长。
“澳人治澳”、高度自治在澳门得到充分保障和完全体现。回归后，澳门特区形成了以行政长官为核心的行政主导体制。在行政长官统领下，行政、司法、立法机关分工负责，行政、立法机关既互相制衡又互相配合，司法机关独立行使审判权。20年来，澳门特区依法顺利进行五任行政长官选举、六届立法会选举，真正实现了以爱国者为主体的“澳人治澳”，其间还举行了五届全国人大代表选举，目前澳门特区有12名全国人大代表、37名全国政协委员参与国是。广大澳门同胞作为祖国大家庭的成员，拥有参与管理国家事务的民主权利，作为澳门的主人翁，承担着管理好、建设好澳门的历史责任。
“这在澳葡时期是完全无法想象的！”回归前，澳门总督由葡萄牙总统任免和授权。长达数百年的时间里，华人对澳门政治事务的参与几乎为零，直到1997年，才有第一位华人在澳葡政府中担任司级职务。回归之初就在特区政府任职的现任特首崔世安回忆，年轻的特区政府在整体施政经验几近于无的窘境下起步，“当时我们都是凭着一股当家作主的热情来挑这副担子的。”
“在中央政府授权和支持下，澳门对外交往不断扩大，国际影响力日益增强。144个国家和地区给予澳门护照免签证或落地签证待遇。澳门连续承办五届‘中国—葡语国家经贸合作论坛部长级会议’，发挥了作为中葡商贸合作服务平台的独特作用。中国澳门，正在从容自信地面向世界、融入全球。”澳门中联办主任傅自应说。
“澳门回归时间越久，我们对祖国的认同感越强。国家对澳门的帮助，老百姓都记在心里。”澳门江门同乡会会长甄瑞权说。谈起国家对澳门的帮助支持，澳门人如数家珍：“个人游”政策，澳门受益最大，经济迅速回升；“非典”时期，药品先保障港澳；2017年，澳门遭受几十年未遇的强台风“天鸽”袭击，解放军驻澳部队官兵不分昼夜，连续奋战多日，清理水淹后的街道；来自内地的大量救灾物资和食物通过珠海源源不断地运入澳门。
当祖国需要的时候，澳门同胞纷纷伸出援手。汶川地震，澳门同胞踊跃捐款，特区政府设立澳门特区支持四川地震灾后重建协调小组，拨款50亿元（澳门元，下同），澳门基金会拨款5亿元，共计援建了106个项目。
“金莲花广场每天早上八点会有升旗活动，我们特警队的升旗队负责升旗，每天都有许多市民和游客来观看。”澳门治安警察局副局长刘运嫦说。
“澳门回归后，爱国爱澳已从一种民间情怀转化成为全社会的核心价值。”崔世安说。
“一国”是根，根深才能叶茂；“一国”是本，本固才能枝荣。全面准确理解和贯彻“一国两制”方针，牢牢把握“一国两制”的核心要义，旗帜鲜明捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益，成为澳门“一国两制”成功实践弥足珍贵的经验。
