Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Macau from December 18 to 20 to mark the 25th anniversary of the region’s return to China. As Beijing continues to highlight Macau as a successful example of the One Country, Two Systems framework, there is growing anticipation about what symbolic gifts Xi may bring during his visit.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Xi’s trip will include a tour of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macau Deep Cooperation Zone and participation in the official 25th-anniversary celebrations on December 20. The event will also feature the inauguration of Ho Iat Seng, Macau’s newly elected Chief Executive, who was chosen in October.
Ho, born in mainland China, is the first person from the mainland to hold the top leadership position in Macau. Since his election, Ho has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to upholding the One Country, Two Systems policy, which allows Macau to maintain a high degree of autonomy under Chinese sovereignty.
Beijing has been working hard to promote Macau as a model for the One Country, Two Systems approach. Chinese state media outlets, including Xinhua and CCTV, have provided extensive coverage to emphasize the policy’s success and legitimacy in Macau and celebrate its unique integration into China’s national development strategy.
In a special report, CCTV highlighted that with robust support from the central government, Macau’s economy has experienced significant growth over the past 25 years, and living standards have steadily improved. The report also pointed out that Macau’s integration into China’s broader development plan has opened new regional opportunities.
This marks Xi’s first visit to Macau for a major milestone. During the 20th-anniversary celebrations in 2019, Xi emphasized that the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau are strictly China’s internal matters, warning that no external forces would be allowed to intervene. He also praised Macau for successfully implementing its version of the One Country, Two Systems model.
In conjunction with Xi’s 2019 visit, Chinese financial regulators introduced measures to boost offshore investments in Macau, offering the region economic gifts. These measures included provisions for Macau-based banks to open branches in mainland China and for Chinese insurance funds to invest in Macau’s growing economy.
Macau, a former Portuguese colony, was returned to Chinese sovereignty on December 20, 1999.