STORY: Macao's remarkable transformation under "one country, two systems" policy
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Dec. 16, 2024
LENGTH: 00:06:22
LOCATION: MACAO, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Macao
2. various of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HOI MAN CHIO, Macao resident
4. various of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): MR. LAM, Macao resident
6. various of Wu Chou Kit, Chairman of the Macao Institute of Engineers
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WU CHOU KIT, Chairman of the Macao Institute of Engineers, Director of Huazhong United Design and Consulting Co., Ltd.
8. various of Hengqin
9. various of Macao
10. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LIU CHANGMEI, President of Macao Urban Culture Promotion Association
11. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): LEI WAI NONG, Secretary for economy and finance of the Macao SAR government
12. various of Macao and the Greater Bay Area
13. SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LEI WAI NONG, Secretary for economy and finance of the Macao SAR government
                         
STORYLINE: 
The festive mood is in the air in Macao as the city is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland.

Macao has experienced remarkable transformation under the "one country, two systems" policy.

The 55-km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which opened in October 2018, is the longest bridge-and-tunnel sea crossing in the world.

It links the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, and the Macao SAR.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HOI MAN CHIO, Macao resident
"Previously, I could only travel to Zhuhai via Gongbei Port (in Zhuhai). Now, I can take the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. It is convenient and time-saving."

The bridge is part of a growingly extensive, interconnected transportation network in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which has fostered new patterns of cross-city consumption, economic exchange and lifestyles.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): MR. LAM, Macao resident
"We go to Gongbei 17 or 18 times a month for shopping and dining. We leave in the afternoon and could return in the evening."

Macao has been leveraging the advantages of the "one country, two systems" policy and actively participating in the development of the Greater Bay Area.

It has advanced the building of the second phase of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

In 2021, the central government unveiled a plan to boost the development of the in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, positioning it as a catalyst for Macao's diversified economic growth and a hub that expands the living and work space of Macao residents.

Huazhong United Design and Consulting Co., Ltd. is based in Hengqin.

It's the mainland's first company jointly operated by construction professionals from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): WU CHOU KIT, Chairman of the Macao Institute of Engineers, Director of Huazhong United Design and Consulting Co., Ltd.
"We have introduced advanced international project management models in Hengqin. The central government has provided us with significant support, enabling us to bring more expertise to better serve Macao and serve our country. Many other professionals have also been working in the Greater Bay Area and I have seen a promising future in the Greater Bay Area."

By the end of 2023, 11,500 Macao residents were working or living in Hengqin, an annual increase of over 70%.

Over the years, Macao has been striving to diversify its economy.

The Macao SAR government has put forward the strategy for appropriate economic diversification to build Macao into a world tourism and leisure center and develop its priority industries of big health, modern finance, high technology, exhibition and convention, as well as culture and sports.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LIU CHANGMEI, President of Macao Urban Culture Promotion Association
"Macao is a renowned tourist city. It has comprehensive infrastructures."

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): LEI WAI NONG, Secretary for economy and finance of the Macao SAR government
"Last year, non-gaming sectors accounted for over 60 percent of Macao's GDP. It is an important task for Macao to leverage its own advantages and integrate into the national development agenda. With its highly internationalized business environment and strong economic foundation, the Macao SAR will continue to consolidate and make good use of its unique advantages. It will spare no effort in promoting appropriate economic diversification and burnishing Macao's image as an international metropolis, thus driving high-quality economic and social development."

In its ongoing drive for technological advancement, research teams in Macao's elite universities have made active contributions to the country's Mars, lunar and other space missions.

In 2023, the Macao SAR government followed up on around a dozen investment plans on scientific and technological industries, and supported a batch of research fruits to commercialize.

Macao also sped up developing its bond market, improving financial infrastructure, and promoting the bond market to be connected to the international market.

Driven by the development of the Greater Bay Area, Macao is further integrating into and contributing to the country's overall development.

Its practice of "one country, two systems" has been consistently enriched.

A vibrant and internationally competitive Greater Bay Area has taken shape, flourishing into a world-class city cluster.

From 1999 to 2023, Macao's per capita GDP grew from around 15,000 USD to 69,000 USD.

Its unemployment rate dropped from 6.3 percent to 2.7 percent.

The median monthly salary of local workers stood at about 20,000 patacas (about 2,500 USD) in 2023, up from about 5,000 patacas (about 624 USD) in 1999.

Macao was awarded "Best Convention City (Asia)" in 2023 and "Best BT-MICE City" in 2024.

SOUNDBITE 6 (Chinese): LEI WAI NONG, Secretary for economy and finance of the Macao SAR government
"In the future, the Macao SAR government will fully leverage Macao's important role in the broader context of national reform and opening up, utilizing its strengths to serve the country's needs. At the same time, we will seize the historic opportunities brought by national development, continuously advancing the successful practice of 'one country, two systems' with Macao characteristics. We will strive to contribute even more significantly to the comprehensive advancement of Chinese modernization with new development achievements."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Macao, China.
(XHTV)