On December 10th, a media tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland kicked off in Zhuhai. Over the following four days, reporters from major media outlets from both the Chinese mainland and Macao will explore over 10 important projects and platforms for promoting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Over the past two decades, Macao has maintained close contact with the Chinese mainland, especially Guangdong province, in terms of economy, trade, culture and society. The all-round cooperation between Guangdong and Macao is developing at an unprecedented breadth and depth.

Macao is a poster boy for the successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy. According to Xinhua News Agency, its gross domestic product (GDP) had soared to 54.6 billion U.S. dollars by 2018 up from just 6.1 billion U.S. dollars in 1999, with its financial reserves and foreign reserves growing 193 fold and 6.2 fold respectively.

“As Macao’s neighbour in the Greater Bay Area, Zhuhai will strengthen ties to Macao, support it a establishment as ‘a center, a platform and a base’ (Macao’s roles as a global tourism and leisure centre, an economic and trade cooperation platform between China and Lusophone countries, and a base facilitating multicultural exchanges), and make greater contributions toward maintaining its long-term prosperity and stability,” said Zhuhai Party Chief Guo Yonghang.

The media tour is being hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province. “This tour will demonstrate the crucial measures behind and outcomes of Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation in utilizing the opportunities brought by the Greater Bay Area and Shenzhen Pilot Demonstration Area.” Zeng Shengquan, Deputy Chief of the Cyberspace Administration of Guangdong Province, remarked at the launch ceremony.

The major stops on the tour include Hengqin Free Trade Zone, Guangdong-Macao Cross-border Industrial Park, Hengqin New Port, Guangdong-Macao New Pass, the University of Macao, and the General Union of Neighbors’ Association of Macao.

Author: Hannah Zhou

Editors: Olivia Ouyang, Simon Haywood