— By Lawal Sale
FLOWERBUDNEWS: Located on China’s southern coast, Macau returned to Chinese rule on Dec. 20, 1999, governed under the “one country, two systems” with Macao characteristics.
It is part of China as one of the two Special Administrative Regions (SAR)’s under the Chinese central government.
Today’s Macao Special Administrative Region used to be under the Portuguese control until December 20, 1999, when it was returned to the motherland (China).
The region is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Friday, with President Xi Jinping arriving on Wednesday to join the Macanese people in the celebration.
In his speech on arrival at the airport, President Xi described Macao as the “jewel of the motherland.”
“I have always been concerned about the development of this place and the well-being of all its residents,” he told the crowd, which included senior government officials and Macau’s current leader Ho Iat Seng.
Macao SAR has a population of about 700, 000, and it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a rapid rise in GDP and one of the highest in the world.
It has achieved all these stellar performances, vigorous economies, stable harmonious social relations, and improved livelihood for its people since after its return to China 25 years ago.
Macao is autonomous, and perhaps that is why it has its own currency, passport, legal system, flag, and even language.
Its original language was Maquista. Even though it has gone into extinction, majority Macanese today speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and Portuguese.
Macao region is a bursting gambling tourism destination to the extent that its gambling industry is seven times larger than that of Las Vegas in the U.S. Gambling profits in Macao generate more than 70% of its revenue. Its currency is Patacas or Macanese Pataca.
(– Sale is Abuja based Global Affairs Analyst basedinAbuja.)
