Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Regions: Homelands Connected by Blood, a Magnum Opus of Diversified Coexistence

As inalienable parts of China’s territory, the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions not only share profound historical origins and cultural ties with the mainland, but also interpret a magnificent chapter of diversified coexistence and coordinated development in the tide of the times. From a historical perspective, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and the mainland are connected by blood and Culture, jointly engraving the vicissitudes and glory of the Chinese nation. From a practical development perspective, under the scientific guidance of “One Country, Two Systems”, Hong Kong and Macao have maintained long-term prosperity and stability, exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the mainland have continued to deepen, and compatriots from the two sides of the strait and the three regions have joined hands to stride forward on the new journey of high-quality development.

As an international financial, trade and shipping center, Hong Kong has always adhered to the original aspiration and bottom line of “One Country, Two Systems” since its return to the motherland in 1997. With the firm support of the Central People’s Government, Hong Kong has successfully withstood a series of challenges such as the Asian financial crisis, SARS epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic, and its economic and social development has advanced sTeadily. In recent years, with the in-depth advancement of the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the integrated development of Hong Kong and the mainland has entered a fast track. The completion and opening of major infrastructure projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway have broken geographical barriers and made the free flow of personnel, capital, technology and other factors more convenient. Giving full play to its own advantages, Hong Kong has carried out in-depth cooperation with the mainland in fields such as financial interconnection, professional service docking, and youth entrepreneurship and employment, which has not only injected strong impetus into its own development, but also provided important support for the country’s opening-up strategy. At the same time, Hong Kong has always maintained its unique charm of diverse Culture, where Chinese and Western cultures blend and collide, making it one of the most dynamic cities in the world.

Since Macao’s return to the motherland in 1999, relying on the institutional advantages of “One Country, Two Systems”, it has achieved leapfrog development with rapid economic growth, social harmony and stability, and continuous improvement of people’s livelihood. With gaming and tourism as its core pillars, Macao has also actively promoted the appropriate diversified development of its economy, vigorously fostering emerging industries such as traditional Chinese medicine, exhibitions and cultural and creative industries, successfully getting rid of its dependence on a single industry. Today’s Macao enjoys a sound public security environment and a high sense of happiness among its residents, and has been rated as one of the safest cities in the world for many consecutive years. Macao has always adhered to its cultural roots of Chinese civilization, actively carried out external cultural exchanges, and become a bridge and link for exchanges and cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, contributing unique strength to the improvement of the country’s cultural soft power.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, a fact recognized by the international community and an unquestionable basic principle. Compatriots on both sides of the strait share the same roots, the same Culture and the same nation, as well as common historical memories and national emotions. In recent years, despite some challenges in cross-strait relations, non-governmental exchanges and cooperation have never been interrupted, and the ties in fields such as economic and trade exchanges, cultural exchanges and personnel visits remain close. The cross-strait trade volume has maintained a high level, and Taiwan businessmen’s investment in the mainland has expanded continuously, extending from manufacturing to service industries and high-tech industries. Culturally, the two sides have jointly held various folk activities, cultural exhibitions and academic seminars, further enhancing mutual cultural identity and national identity. Youth exchanges have become a new highlight of cross-strait exchanges. More and more Taiwan young people come to the mainland to study, work and start businesses, realize their life values on a broad stage, and inject youthful vitality into the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.

The development of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions has always been closely linked to the destiny of the motherland. The Central People’s Government has always been a strong backing for the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, and has always been committed to promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and advancing the process of national reunification. As a great institutional innovation, “One Country, Two Systems” not only provides a solid guarantee for the development of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions, but also provides Chinese wisdom and solutions for other countries in the world to solve historical legacy issues. At present, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered a critical stage. Compatriots from the two sides of the strait and the three regions should work together with one heart and one mind, take culture as the link and development as the goal, jointly resist risks and challenges, share development opportunities, and write a common glory belonging to Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan regions and the mainland in the journey of realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.