Fifteen years after returning to China, and guided by the "one country, two systems" policy, Macao has found its own development path. Now, Macao is in its best ever phase of development, making overall progress in the economy, social undertakings, public welfare and social stability.

Leng Tiexun, Deputy Director of the "One Country Two Systems" Research Center of Macao Polytechnic Institute, said that for the past fifteen years, the center has conducted a survey on the core values of Macao Society every year. The "one country, two systems" and "love China, love Macao" have always ranked in the top 3, which suggests that Macao not only has returned to China in law, but also has returned to China in public sentiment.

In the past fifteen years, Macao has achieved a leap forward in economic development, with GDP increasing from 6 billion USD to over 50 billion USD. Economic development has brought much confidence to its people, who think that the future of Macao can expand beyond the gaming industry. According to Su Tianping, Director of Macao Economic Service Bureau, regional cooperation has offered a broad space for the development of a pluralistic economy in Macao. The overall development of trade, tourism, conventions and exhibitions, the cultural creative industry, science and technology, logistics, retail, infrastructure construction and emerging industries has greatly promoted the economic restructuring of Macao. Last year, Macao held over 1000 conventions and exhibitions, and revenues from the retail industry were about 8.2 billion USD.

Macao citizens have derived significant benefits from rapid economic development in the form of education, medical treatment, social security and other services.

According to Zheng Chengye, Deputy Director of the Macao Health Bureau, there is one health center for every 4.5 square kilometers in Macao, and all medical services are provided free of charge. Macao is one of a few healthy cities recognized by the WHO. The average life span of Macao people increased from 80.7 in 1999 to 85 in 2013.

After returning to China, the education system of Macao continued to improve. All citizens now enjoy 15 years of free education from kindergarten to high school. From 1999 to 2013, the employed population increased from 196,000 to 370,000, and the unemployment rate dropped from 6.3 percent to 1.8 percent.

Just like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge that connects Macao and the mainland, the rapid development of Macao would have been impossible without the support of the mainland. Chui Sai On, Chief Executive of Macao SAR, says: "We try to connect Macao with our country, because we are part of it. Macao cannot prosper without the development of our motherland." 

The article is edited and translated from《回归十五年 澳门更自信》, source: People's Daily Overseas Edition, author: Zheng Hongshen.