As the National Day approaches, five-star flags and festive banners have lined the streets and alleys of China's Macao Special Administrative Region, drawing people from all walks of life into the celebrations, where they express their hopes for the country's prosperity.
The festive mood is palpable across the Special Administrative Region. Red flags ripple in the breeze at border checkpoints, along main thoroughfares, and in parks and plazas, as residents express their patriotism and share their visions for the future.
Pang Chuan, Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology, said the nation's backing has lifted the Special Administrative Region's higher education to new heights, with the fast-rising Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town giving local universities unprecedented room to grow.
"The motherland's strong support has kept Macao's economy and society moving forward and brought steady progress to its higher education sector. Thanks to the building of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town is taking shape fast, offering Macao's universities unprecedented opportunities to grow by rooting themselves in local realities, backed by the motherland, and looking toward the world," said Professor Pang.
"Looking ahead, we will align more actively with the nation's development strategies and open a new chapter in the successful practice of One Country, Two Systems with Macao characteristics. When the motherland thrives, Macao will be all the more prosperous," he said.
Hengqin, located in Zhuhai City of south China's Guangdong Province, is separated from the Macao Special Administrative Region by a narrow stretch of water. The Hengqin Port is the only land port connecting Hengqin and Macao. The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin was established in 2021 to facilitate Macao's better integration into the overall national development.
Lei Wa Chio, executive council member of the Macao Youth Federation, said closer ties among regions across the Greater Bay Area city cluster in south China are giving the younger generation a wider stage to chase their dreams.
"Macao's prosperity and stability would be impossible without the motherland's care and support. As the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Macao-Hengqin integration continue to advance, Macao can better integrate into and serve the country's overall development, giving its young people broader platforms to showcase their talents and pursue their dreams," he said.
"2026 marks the opening of the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and the start of Macao's third five-year plan (2026-2030). We must seize this historic opportunity, rise to the call of our times, and contribute our youthful energy to the development of the motherland and Macao. As the National Day approaches, I wish the motherland prosperity and Macao an even brighter future," Lei said.
Thursday marks the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Macao turns red for National Day as residents send best wishes to motherland
