Macau, a vibrant blend of East and West, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its return to China. To mark this milestone, Xinhua News Agency spoke with international residents about their experiences living in this unique city.
Carlos Alvarez, a Portuguese national known as Ou Weishi in Chinese, arrived in Macau 31 years ago for a vacation. Now, as the CEO of Macau Bank Atlantic, he has called this city home for six years. “Friendliness” and “convenience” are what he values most about Macau.
“Macau has a very pleasant social environment and is one of the safest cities in the world. Here you can easily find restaurants with flavors from all over the world and affordable michelin restaurants.”
Ou Weishi attributes his comfortable life to Macau’s unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, a result of its rich past background.
In 2023, the Macau SAR government unveiled a “1+4” moderately diversified economic growth strategy, focusing on key industries like tourism, health, finance, technology, exhibitions, culture, and sports.This strategy aims to promote sustainable and high-quality economic growth in Macau.
Ou Weishi, as a financial professional, is optimistic about this policy. He believes that moderate economic diversification will attract more multinational investment and create new job opportunities, ultimately benefiting the lives of Macau residents.
Another Portuguese national, Joao Simons, known as juao in Chinese, has lived in Macau for 12 years.he is an assistant professor at the Institute of Portuguese-speaking Countries at City University of Macau. After a brief internship in 2007, Juao fell in love with the city and decided to make it his home.
Macau, a vibrant blend of East and West, has long been a magnet for international residents.For many, like Zhu Ao, a former foreign teacher from China, the city holds a special allure.”Macau is very special,” Zhu Ao shared. “The architecture, food, language, and friends here all make me feel like home.”
In a move to further strengthen ties between Macau and mainland China, a new policy was implemented on July 10th, 2024. This policy grants non-Chinese permanent residents of Macau a mainland Travel permit, valid for five years. This permit allows for multiple entries and stays of up to 90 days each,significantly easing travel between the two regions. The initiative aims to encourage investment, family visits, tourism, business ventures, and academic exchanges, ultimately fostering closer economic and cultural connections.
João Simons, a Portuguese national and assistant professor at the City University of Macau, is among those who stand to benefit from this new policy. “We bought a house in Zhuhai in 2012 and spent two or three hours queuing at the port to commute to and from Macau,” he recalls. “Now with this new ID, we can easily cross the border in just a few minutes.”
Todd Lyle Sandel,an American associate professor at the University of Macau,shares a similar sentiment. He and his colleagues recently experienced the convenience firsthand, walking from their university to Hengqin Port, crossing the border swiftly for lunch, and returning to campus for class.”This experience is very novel,” Sandel remarked. “This is the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ in action. Macau’s further integration into the overall development of the country is an achievement.”
Macau, a vibrant special Administrative Region of China, is attracting a growing number of international professionals who are drawn to its unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, economic opportunities, and high quality of life. This influx of talent is contributing to Macau’s ongoing development and diversification.
Shen Dade, an associate professor at the University of Macau’s school of Social Sciences, arrived in 2012. He vividly recalls the early days of the Hengqin campus, watching its construction from across the sea.”The Hengqin campus is now filled with students, teachers and staff from all over the world,” he says, highlighting the university’s international appeal.
Shen Dade, who has lived in Macau for nearly 13 years, appreciates the city’s relaxed pace of life and the politeness of its residents. “Even if foreigners cannot speak Cantonese and Mandarin, they can live comfortably here,” he observes.
Francisco José Leandro, a Portuguese associate professor at the University of Macau, specializes in fields such as the Belt and Road Initiative, Portuguese-speaking countries, and international relations. He has published two books on the Belt and Road Initiative and feels a strong sense of pride in his work. “I like Macau very much. I am proud of this university and proud of my work,” he states.
Leandro is optimistic about Macau’s future, believing that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation zone will create new opportunities for collaboration with Portuguese-speaking countries. “The Greater Bay Area has a huge economy, advanced technological innovation, and high-end skilled talents. These characteristics are very suitable for the needs of Portuguese-speaking countries,” he explains.
Li Tianyou, another professor at the University of Macau, shares Leandro’s enthusiasm for Macau.He and his wife moved to Macau 12 years ago and have witnessed the city’s remarkable development. “My home is in Macau, and my life is also in Macau. Whenever someone asks me where I am from, my answer is Macau!” he declares.
Macau’s economic stability and diversification are attracting increasing numbers of foreign professionals.Official data shows that the total number of non-resident employees in Macau exceeded 175,000 by the end of 2023, a significant increase from the previous year.
the city’s cultural scene is also flourishing. Shen Dade recently enjoyed a Spanish opera performance, highlighting Macau’s emergence as a “performing city.” Leandro sees his work studying relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries as a lifelong commitment, comparing himself to a gardener nurturing future generations.
While some professors,like Zhu Ao,look forward to returning to the mainland after retirement,others,like Ou Weishi,anticipate missing Macau’s unique charm even after they leave.
The world of online news is constantly evolving,with new platforms and content formats emerging all the time. One such platform, Xinhua Newspaper Network, has recently made headlines with its bold stance on copyright and content reproduction.
In a statement released on its website, Xinhua Newspaper Network asserted its exclusive copyright over all manuscripts originating from “junction Point, Xinhua Daily and its subsidiary newspapers.” The network explicitly prohibits the reproduction or mirroring of these materials without prior permission.
“Authorized reprints must be clearly marked,” the statement reads, emphasizing the importance of attribution and openness. “The source is ‘Xinhua Newspaper Network,’ and the title of ‘Xinhua newspaper Network’ is retained.”
This move underscores the growing importance of intellectual property rights in the digital age. As online content becomes increasingly ubiquitous, platforms like Xinhua Newspaper Network are taking steps to protect their original work and ensure proper attribution.
The statement also includes a disclaimer clarifying that the views expressed in reproduced manuscripts represent solely the author’s perspective and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Xinhua Newspaper Network. The site emphasizes that it dose not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented and encourages readers to verify content independently.
This dual approach – asserting copyright while also disclaiming duty for individual author viewpoints – highlights the complex landscape of online publishing. As the digital world continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how platforms will navigate these challenges and balance the rights of creators with the need for open access to information.
This is a fantastic article about Macau highlighting the experiences of international residents and experts working there. It effectively captures the city’s unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, its strong economy, and its high quality of life.
Here are some of the strengths of the article:
* **focus on personal stories:** The article effectively uses quotes and anecdotes from international residents like Ou Weishi,Joao Simons,Zhu Ao,Todd Lyle Sandel,Shen Dade,Francisco José Leandro,and Li Tianyou. These personal stories make Macau feel relatable and human, revealing the city’s charm and appeal.
* **Clear economic context:** The article provides a good overview of Macau’s economic situation, including the “1+4″ moderately diversified economic growth strategy and the new policy allowing non-Chinese permanent residents to obtain mainland travel permits.This context helps readers understand the larger forces shaping Macau’s future.
* **Emphasis on international collaboration:** The article highlights Macau’s role as a bridge between China and the world, especially with Portuguese-speaking countries. This focus on international collaboration reinforces Macau’s unique position and potential.
* **Positive and optimistic tone:** The article portrays a generally positive and optimistic outlook on Macau’s future, fueled by the city’s economic growth, diverse population, and exciting opportunities for collaboration.
Here are some suggestions for potential improvements:
* **Expand on the challenges:** While the article focuses on the positive aspects of living in Macau,it could benefit from briefly mentioning some of the challenges faced by international residents,such as language barriers or cultural differences.
* **Include more visuals:** Adding more photographs could further enhance the article’s visual appeal and provide readers with a better sense of Macau’s culture and landscape.
* **Conclude with a stronger call to action:** The article could end with a more compelling call to action,encouraging readers to learn more about Macau,consider visiting,or explore potential job opportunities.
this is an excellent article that paints a compelling portrait of Macau as a vibrant and welcoming city for international professionals and residents alike.
