On December 20, 2024, Macau celebrated an important milestone of the 25th anniversary of its return to China.

This day not only carries the significance of a historical turning point, but also marks a new height in the modern development of Macau.

Macao has gradually developed from an economically isolated small city into a vibrant modern special administrative region, making significant progress in various fields.

Whether it is economic growth, social welfare, or cultural heritage, Macao is constantly deepening its cooperation with neighboring regions, radiating new vitality and demonstrating broad prospects for diversified and sustainable development.

At the beginning of its return in 1999, Macau had a single socio-economic structure and lacked development momentum.

At that time, the total economic output of Macau was about 51.9 billion Macau dollars, and the tax revenue of the gambling industry was 14 billion Macau dollars, accounting for nearly 50% of the government's fiscal revenue.

Today, 25 years later, Macau's economic development has made significant progress.

In 2023, Macau's GDP reached MOP 520 billion, more than 10 times that of 1999;

The per capita GDP has increased from $15000 at the beginning of the return to about $70000, ranking among the top in the world.

Economic development has shifted from dominance in gambling to diversified coexistence. Macao has promoted economic diversification through the "tourism+" strategy, expanding from a single structure centered on gambling to emerging fields such as medical tourism, sports industry, and cultural creativity.

For example, the Macau Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry Park has collaborated with Portuguese speaking countries to export traditional Chinese medicine products to international markets, forming a unique medical tourism project.

According to data from 2023, tourist consumption in the healthcare sector has increased by 15%, with 40% coming from the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, demonstrating the potential for the development of health tourism.

In the fields of culture and sports, Macau has enhanced the city's internationalization level and promoted economic growth through branded international events and artistic activities.

The Macau Grand Prix not only attracts global audiences, but also drives tourism and dining consumption.

In 2023, Macau received approximately 39 million tourists, of which over 60% were cultural tourists.

The output value of the cultural industry has increased from less than MOP 1 billion in 1999 to over MOP 10 billion in 2023, with an average annual growth rate of nearly 10%.

The cultural industry in Macau has also shown new vitality.

While protecting historical relics, the Macau government actively promotes the development of cultural and creative industries, especially in the film industry. The annual ticket revenue of Macau cinema has increased from MOP 20 million in 2015 to MOP 100 million in 2023, becoming one of the highlights of Asia's cultural and creative industries.

In terms of government services, Macau has achieved significant results in promoting digital reform.

The "one-stop" government services that are in line with the mainland have simplified the workflow and improved the efficiency of public services through an e-government platform.

Citizens can use the "Macau Pass" app to handle various services such as ID card updates and medical appointments, which are convenient and fast.

In terms of the construction of the rule of law, in recent years, Macau has attached great importance to the protection of the rule of law and judicial independence, continuously promoting the reform and improvement of the judicial system.

The Intellectual Property Law introduced in 2019 provides more comprehensive legal protection for the development of innovative industries and supports the rapid development of cultural, creative, technological, and digital industries.

The strengthened training of judges and prosecutors has improved the overall quality of judicial personnel.

In terms of elderly care and livelihood security, Macao's development is particularly significant.

In recent years, Macau's social security expenditure has grown at an average annual rate of 5%, making continuous progress in ensuring people's well-being.

To address the issue of aging population, the Macau government has actively introduced a series of elderly care policies and social security measures, which have improved the happiness and quality of life of citizens.

The National Health Security Program provides free basic medical services to citizens and gradually improves medical facilities and resource allocation.

In 2023, the average life expectancy in Macau has reached 84 years, an increase of 6 years compared to the early period of reunification.

From a global perspective, the development of Macau reflects the success of China's economy, culture, and foreign policy.

After its return, Macau actively integrated into the overall development of China and made significant progress in all aspects of development. In this sense, China's "One Country, Two Systems" policy has been successful, and the future development of the Macau Special Administrative Region is also worth looking forward to.