Macao's high-quality development course set: China Daily editorial

Macao's development achievements and social stability since its return to the motherland in 1999 testify to the vitality of the "one country, two systems" framework. The special administrative region's Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026-30), released on Tuesday, marks a new starting point for Macao to seize opportunities, address challenges and pursue high-quality development by turning its institutional advantages into development momentum and development gains into public well-being.

A notable feature of the plan is its emphasis on docking with national development. As Macao SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai stressed, the plan is aligned with the national five-year plan for this period while taking into account Macao's own realities. By strengthening integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, deepening Macao-Hengqin cooperation and better leveraging Macao's international connections, the SAR can translate the advantages of national development into new opportunities for itself, while contributing its own strengths to the country's overall development.

The plan's formulation also shows that the SAR's development course is rooted in the aspirations of Macao residents. During the 40-day public consultation, 1,716 submissions containing 8,230 opinions were collected. The largest number of opinions concerned strengthening and optimizing people's livelihoods, followed by appropriate economic diversification and high-quality development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. The plan received positive feedback of 92.1 percent.

These figures demonstrate that the plan reflects extensive participation and broad consensus. The Macao SAR government has incorporated feasible suggestions that gained broad consensus into the final plan, while pledging to use other opinions as references for future policymaking. Measures on urban renewal, healthcare, social security and improvements to older districts directly respond to public concerns.

At the same time, the plan identifies appropriate economic diversification as essential for Macao's long-term prosperity and stability. With a target of raising the contribution of non-gaming sectors to around 60 percent of GDP by 2030, Macao is seeking to build a more balanced and resilient economic structure.

The "1+4" strategy, backed by major infrastructure projects and a government guidance fund, will promote industries, including high-technology, biomedicine and "Big Health", specialized finance, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), culture and sports, while consolidating integrated tourism and leisure. Preliminary estimates put total budgeted investment in major economic diversification projects during the plan period at about 130 billion patacas ($16.1 billion). Such substantial investment will help cultivate new growth engines and create opportunities for enterprises, talent and young people.

Hengqin is key to this transformation. Through deeper integration in rules, infrastructure, education, technology, finance and industries, "Macao + Hengqin" can combine Macao's international resources with Hengqin's development space and the vast mainland market. The two sides can jointly advance projects in education, technology, tourism, traditional Chinese medicine and finance, creating greater synergies and providing stronger foundations for Macao's economic diversification.

Macao's unique role extends beyond its economic functions. As an international city, Macao serves as a connector between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Its distinctive cultural and international advantages give it an important role in the country's high-standard opening-up. By facilitating trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, Macao can contribute more effectively to the country's overall development, while strengthening exchanges between different civilizations.

To those seeking to malign the "one country, two systems" framework, Macao's high-quality development and long-term stability offer an effective rebuttal. The SAR's new five-year blueprint, grounded in public aspirations, aligned with national development and focused on sustainable growth, points precisely in that direction. By implementing this plan, Macao can better achieve sustainable prosperity and lasting stability, further demonstrating the enduring vitality of the "one country, two systems" framework.