People from various sectors of society gathered at Macao International Airport to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Wednesday.
President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will attend a gathering celebrating the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inauguration ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao SAR on Friday.
"I feel really excited right now, because it's the first time I have such an opportunity [to participate in this activity]. I was born in 1999, the same year as Macao's return to the motherland. So, this year also marks that I've reached 25," said Chin Tung Yee, a graduate student at the University of Macau.
The school of Escola Choi Nong Chi Tai organized a welcoming lion dance performance at the airport to greet Xi's arrival.
Siu Chi Hung, director of moral education department at the school, noted that the support of the motherland has propped up the rapid development of Macao.
"I'm very excited and happy, because the anniversary is truly a great day. Over the past 25 days, our country has really taken great care of Macao," said Siu.
Wong Ka Lon, chairman of Macao Youth Federation, said that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has provided Macao with a broad platform for development.
"The government has given Macao youths a lot of convenience, respect and opportunities. Especially now, the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has provided us with a platform for development that makes our future even more promising. We're full of expectations for our future," he said.
On December 20, 1999, the Chinese government resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Macao and established the Macao SAR.
Since its return to the motherland, Macao has achieved significant economic growth. Reflecting the robustness of Macao's economy and its fiscal strength, the SAR's fiscal reserves stood at around 617 billion Macao patacas (MOP) (around 77.22 billion U.S. dollars) as of September 2024, an increase of 43.5 billion MOP compared with the same period in 2019.
Crowds gather to give warm welcome to President Xi in Macao
Luis Gomes, acting president of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Sports Bureau, highlighted that Macao, having hosted numerous international sporting events thanks to the mainland's vast resources, seeks to attract more globally renowned sports events to enhance local economic growth and the sports industry.
During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Gomes highlighted that Macao's ambition to become a sports hub stems from its success in attracting a growing number of international sporting events and spectators from home and abroad, achieved through leveraging its unique advantages and special status under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy.
"Macao's strategic positioning as 'one center, one platform, one base' has enabled it to harness the potential of sporting events to strengthen its international influence. Leveraging its unique advantages and special status, such as 'One Country, Two Systems', its role as an international free port, a separate customs territory, and its low and simple tax regime, Macao has successfully attracted a growing number of international sporting events and tourists. Thanks to the mainland's vast tourism resources and the integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Macao has hosted numerous high-profile international events," Gomes said.
During the International Table Tennis Federation World Cup Macao 2024, tickets were sold out within a mere 2.2 seconds, emphasizing Macao's significant allure to both domestic and international spectators, as highlighted by the official.
The "one center, one platform, one base" refers to a world center for tourism and leisure, a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and a base for cultural exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream and diverse cultures coexist.
According to Gomes, Macao is anticipating to attract more globally renowned sports events so as to further drive economic growth and foster the prosperity of the local sports industry.
"The Macao Special Administrative Region is actively enhancing the sports sector as part of its economic diversification plan. In 2024, Macao successfully hosted 24 international sports events, a remarkable increase from just seven in 2019. We have enhanced the global profile of established events, such as the Macao International Marathon, by inviting athletes from Portuguese-speaking countries. Additionally, we have partnered with international sports organizations to bring popular competitions, including table tennis and basketball, to Macao. Notably, Macao is set to host two NBA pre-season games next year. We aspire to attract more globally renowned sports events to Macao, further driving economic growth and fostering the prosperity of the local sports industry," he said.
Macao targets more global events to enhance local sports industry: official
