The opening ceremony of the “Macao’s Success in Realising ‘One Country, Two Systems’” exhibition is held at the Universidade de Leiria e Oeste, Portugal. The Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon, Ms Lúcia Abrantes dos Santos, delivers a speech at the event.
The first leg of the exhibition “Macao’s Success in Realising ‘One Country, Two Systems’”, organised by the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government and touring Europe, has been held in Portugal. There were consecutive stops from 12 to 22 October at three prominent higher education institutions across three Portuguese cities: Universidade de Leiria e Oeste, Universidade de Coimbra, and Universidade do Algarve. The event was a resounding success.
The exhibition attracted active participation from across Portuguese society, and saw enthusiastic attendance from members of the public, drawing more than 3,000 visitors. The response met expected targets, laying a solid foundation for subsequent legs of the touring exhibition.
Jointly organised by the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon and the Government Information Bureau, with strong support from a number of Portuguese universities and organisations across various sectors, the exhibition fully reflected the long-standing, deep cultural ties between China and Portugal, as well as the two countries’ shared commitment to cooperation.
The exhibition marks the first time that Macao has taken a systematic approach to sharing the stories of China and Macao with the international community, namely in Europe, under the theme of the successful implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle in Macao, highlighting the MSAR’s unique role in the country’s strategy of opening up to the outside world.
At the opening ceremony, the Director of the Macao Economic and Trade Office in Lisbon, Ms Lúcia Abrantes dos Santos, said in her remarks that since Macao’s return to the motherland – and under the strong leadership and full support of the Central Government – the MSAR Government has comprehensively and accurately implemented the principles of “One country, two systems”, “Macao people governing Macao”, and a high degree of autonomy.
This has fostered a favourable environment characterised by political stability, economic prosperity, social harmony, improved livelihoods and cultural diversity, demonstrating the advantages and robust vitality of the “One country, two systems” framework, she said.
Also present at the opening ceremony were the Director of the Talent Development and Social Security Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Mr Pong Kai Fu, and the Deputy Secretary-General of the Talent Development Committee of the MSAR Government, Mr Wong Kin Mou, who outlined talent-attraction policies and the latest developments regarding the integration of Macao and Hengqin.
They pointed out that Macao would continue to capitalise on the advantages of the “One country, two systems” principle and, by harnessing the opportunities presented by the Cooperation Zone, further deepen practical cooperation with Portugal in talent development, education, and scientific research.
The two representatives cordially invited outstanding talent, university staff, students, and researchers from Portugal, to visit Macao to learn more about the MSAR. This was with a view to: strengthening exchanges between universities and research institutions in Portugal and Macao; promoting the in-depth integration of industry, academia and research; contributing to friendly exchanges between China and Portugal; sharing opportunities in the Chinese mainland market; and participating in the development of Macao and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Representatives of several Portuguese institutions also delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. They noted that the exhibition “Macao’s Success in Realising ‘One Country, Two Systems’”, vividly recounted Macao’s development, transformation, and political and economic achievements since 1999, highlighting the MSAR’s role as a bridge connecting China and Portugal, as well as to Portuguese-speaking countries overall.
They also spoke highly of the inclusiveness and wisdom of the “One country, two systems” principle, and emphasised the deep-rooted ties between the two sides in educational exchanges, cultural integration, and academic collaboration.
Looking ahead, all parties said they hoped to further deepen cross-cultural dialogue by capitalising on Macao’s strategic platform and its talent-recruitment system. Future cooperation would extend beyond language promotion, expanding comprehensively into diverse fields such as high and new technology, “Big Health”, and modern financial services, as well as global climate and resource challenges, thereby continuing to strengthen the close ties between the people and academic communities of China and Portugal.
As the first stop on the European tour of the “Macao’s Success in Realising ‘One Country, Two Systems’” exhibition, the event in Portugal set a solid precedent. Building on this momentum, the MSAR Government will present the showcase in Spain, Belgium, and Switzerland, among other destinations, to continue showcasing to the European public, the successful implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle in Macao. The exhibition will also deepen traditional friendships with European countries, and contribute to China’s high-level opening up to the outside world.
The exhibition comprises six themed sections: “Preface”; “‘One Country, Two Systems’ – The Foundation of Prosperity and Stability of the Macao Special Administrative Region”; “Macao – A Bridge for Openness to the World and a Conduit for Exchanges and Mutual Learning between Civilisations”; “The Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin – A New Horizon for Macao’s Development”; “Maintaining Social Harmony and Stability to Realise Better Lives”; and “Conclusion”.
The showcase highlights achievements made across various sectors – including politics, the economy, society, and people’s livelihoods – in the MSAR since its establishment, under the guidance of the “One country, two systems” principle.
The public is invited to visit the dedicated website for the thematic exhibition at https://www.gcs.gov.mo/cpexpo2026/?p=0&l=en, which is available in Chinese, Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The website aims to provide all interested parties with an understanding of the journey and achievements linked to the successful implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle in Macao.
