Editor's note: Ip Kuai Peng is the vice rector of City University of Macau. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Over the 25 years since its return to the motherland, Macao has forged ahead unwaveringly along the correct path of "One Country, Two Systems," with the firm support of the central government. In recent years, in particular, as the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan has been fully implemented, this "land of lotus" has embraced a new posture in integrating into the country's overall development, demonstrating vigorous vitality through upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground.

The prosperity and stability of Macao are underpinned by the hardware connectivity of infrastructure between Guangdong and Macao. With strong backing from the central government, the Cotai Frontier Post has been relocated to Hengqin in phases, operating with 24-hour clearance services. The innovative "cooperative inspection for one-check release" model has slashed clearance time from about half an hour to just one minute. This transformation has not only provided residents with the convenience of "living in Macao, working in Hengqin," but has also tangibly advanced the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's "one-hour living circle" from vision to reality, injecting fresh vitality into regional integrated development.

The soft connectivity of rules and mechanisms between Guangdong and Macao has given rise to a deeper model of synergistic development between Hengqin and Macao. The vision of "research in Macao, transformation in Hengqin" has now materialized through the innovative model of "Macao platforms + international resources + Hengqin space + shared outcomes." Joint research in key fields such as microelectronics and biomedicine has yielded remarkable results, with a series of innovations emerging one after another. Moreover, this synergy extends to various aspects of industrial collaboration. Policies such as the multifunctional free trade account system in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and the innovative model of Macao Registration and Hengqin Manufacturing for the traditional Chinese medicine industry, have opened new pathways for Macao's appropriate economic diversification.

What is particularly commendable is that Macao's development vision has always resonated with national strategies. Since its return, Macao has firmly established a constitutional order based on the Constitution and the Basic Law, while continuously improving its legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security. In consolidating the social foundation of patriotism and love for Macao, the region has built a cohesive society centered on national identity through a tripartite linkage of community networks, livelihood safeguards and the education system. On this basis, Macao has fully leveraged the unique advantages of "One Country, Two Systems" to participate in and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative, expanded the functions of the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Cooperation Platform, and gradually enhanced trade and economic cooperation with Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries. This open approach, grounded in "what the nation needs and what Macao excels in," has not only promoted appropriate economic diversification but also significantly elevated Macao's visibility and reputation in the international community.

Standing at a new historical starting point, Macao will aim high and actively align with national strategies such as the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, demonstrating greater achievements on the international stage. With an inclusive spirit, it will gather talents under the banner of patriotism and love for Macao, uniting forces to build a better Macao. Embracing determination and innovation, Macao will fully leverage the institutional strengths of "One Country, Two Systems." Under the strong leadership of the central government and guided by the values of patriotism and love for Macao, this city, where Eastern and Western cultures converge, is integrating into the nation's development with unwavering resolve. In doing so, Macao is contributing uniquely to the country's prosperity in the new era and painting a splendid chapter of its own in the journey toward national rejuvenation, continuously pioneering new prospects for its development.