Students, teachers in Macao inspired by Xi's call to promote traditional culture

President Xi Jinping's visit to the University of Macao (UM) in 2014 continues to inspire students and teachers in Macao to embrace and promote traditional Chinese culture, fostering a deep sense of cultural pride and national identity across generations.

In August 2014, the UM relocated to its new campus on Hengqin Island, widely regarded as a project of landmark collaboration between Macao and neighboring Guangdong Province within the "One Country, Two Systems" framework. In December of the same year, President Xi Jinping visited the university and engaged in discussions with the students.

Hengqin is situated in the south of Zhuhai, a coastal city of Guangdong Province. It is separated from Macao by the Pearl River Estuary.

In June 2009, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed a decision, authorizing the Macao Special Administrative Region jurisdiction over 1.09 square km of land located on the eastern coast of the island, where UM's new campus is located.

On Dec 20, 2014, students from Macao, the mainland, Taiwan, and other regions sat together with President Xi Jinping, sharing their experiences in promoting the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation and striving to become better individuals.

"When President Xi entered the classroom, I had the honor of being the first to shake hands with him. The convocation felt like a book club," recalled Tam Chi Kin, a Grade 2014 history student of the UM, in an interview with China Central Television in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to China on December 20, 1999.

"The influence of Chinese culture on the Chinese people has deeply permeated our spirit, much like DNA in our bodies. I am also a passionate advocate of Chinese culture," President Xi told students at the convocation.

After hearing the students' speeches, Xi shared his own thoughts. He mentioned that, when he was young, he too had a deep fondness for reading Chinese cultural classics. Even now, whenever he finds time, he picks up a book to read, noting that each time, he feels it is always beneficial to do so.

"Dear students, after your studies, you must cultivate a sense of pride, cultural self-confidence, and national pride in our millennia-old civilization," Xi said.

"Xi encouraged our students to do two things -- one is to carry forward the spirit of our Chinese culture, and the second is to ask young people to study and develop well," said Wong Seng Fat, Interim College Master of Cheng Yu Tung College of the University of Macao.

Over the years, Xi has consistently encouraged young people to study and understand the history of China, while also strengthening their character and sense of identity as Chinese citizens.

"We have felt the central authorities' high expectations and strong support for Macao's history and culture," said Lo Ka Nok, a research assistant professor at the University of Macao.

At a gathering marking the 15th anniversary of Macao's return to China and the inauguration of the fourth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region on Dec 20, 2014, Xi voiced his expectation for young students to appreciate and carry forward traditional Chinese culture.

"China is a great country with a time-honored history and rich civilization. The fine traditional culture that the Chinese nation has created and carried forward in its thousands of years of history is the root and soul of the Chinese nation. In the education of the young people, priority should be given to the history, culture and national conditions of China, so that they will better appreciate the richness of the Chinese civilization," Xi said.

As an institution dedicated to promoting traditional Chinese culture, Cheng Yu Tung College regularly organizes a wide range of cultural activities for students.

"Cheng Yu Tung College is an institution rooted in China's traditional culture. I sincerely hope that the young people at our college will embrace and appreciate the beauty of traditional Chinese culture," Wong said.

Students, teachers in Macao inspired by Xi's call to promote traditional culture

China is accelerating efforts to build low-altitude infrastructure, with new takeoff and landing facilities, communication networks, and digital systems being constructed in key cities to facilitate the development of this rapidly growing sector.

Low-altitude economy refers to the economic activities and industries centered around manned and unmanned aerial vehicles operating in the airspace usually within 1,000 meters above the ground.

In southern tech hub of Shenzhen, a newly operational rooftop helipad is a key part of the city's push to expand its low-altitude economy. Originally built for fire safety, the helipad has been repurposed with plans for a new aerial sightseeing route in the surrounding area.

"We've estimated the investment, and it's relatively modest since the foundational infrastructure is already in place. The costs will likely be in the range of a few million yuan. If rooftop helipads are connected, it could create an aerial transportation network that links different buildings together," said Kuang Hu, vice chairman of Guangdong Yuehai Land Group.

Shenzhen aims to complete over 1,200 low-altitude facilities by 2026, with the local government offering subsidies of up to 2 million yuan (over 270,000 U.S. dollars) per project. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to create a seamless low-altitude infrastructure ecosystem that integrates airspace management, flight paths, and services.

"By the end of 2026, the district aims to complete 100 low-altitude infrastructure projects," said Chen Wenlei, deputy director of the Development and Reform Bureau of Luohu District, Shenzhen.

"We are in the process of establishing a comprehensive network that includes infrastructure, airspace management, flight paths, and services. By integrating these four key networks into a unified low-altitude standard system, we aim to promote the seamless opening and integration of low-altitude airspace infrastructure and systems," said Cheng Tao, executive secretary of the Shenzhen Low-altitude Economy Industry Association.

In Shanghai, the East China UAV Base has been approved for testing new drones, technologies, and services within a 1,370-square-kilometer airspace. A newly deployed 5G base station at the base offers both communication and radar-like sensing capabilities, essential for managing low-altitude airspace.

"Currently, the station covers a radius of several kilometers, offering crucial data such as the aircraft's latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, and other key metrics. Once airborne, all types of aircraft require communication. For those flying below 300 meters, we can provide tailored coverage for their flight paths," said Du Yanyan, deputy general manager of the Planning and Technology Department at China Mobile Shanghai.

Experts say that technologies like 5G and the BeiDou navigation system are essential to supporting China's low-altitude infrastructure. However, they emphasize the need for network interoperability to address challenges as drones and aircraft transition between regions.

"The low-altitude communication and sensing networks being developed in various regions each follow different technical approaches. For example, when a drone travels from Area A to Area B, it must switch networks, and addressing these challenges promptly is crucial," said Du Jiadong, head of the network and application group at the Low-altitude Economy Research Center, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

The Civil Aviation Administration of China estimates that the country's low-altitude market will soar from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025 and as much as 3.5 trillion yuan in 2035.

This year, for the first time, the term "low-altitude economy" was included in the Chinese government's work report, signifying an official endorsement that has emboldened numerous cities.

Infrastructure networks rapidly taking shape to boost low-altitude economy