Macao Celebrates 26 Years of Return to China with Official Events

Macao, December 20, 2025 – The government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) held a flag-raising ceremony and a formal reception on Saturday to commemorate the 26th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland.

The reception was held at the China–Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex, where Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai addressed guests and outlined the SAR’s development priorities. He reaffirmed Macao’s commitment to aligning its growth with national development strategies and said the government would work towards effectively implementing the Third Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic Development.

Sam stated that Macao would continue to contribute to the broader goal of national rejuvenation, while striving for sustained progress and stability in the city’s development.

Senior officials attending the event included Ho Hau Wah, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Zheng Xincong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; former Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng; and Liu Xianfa, Commissioner of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR. Around 1,000 guests were present at the reception.

Emphasising that development should focus on people’s well-being, Sam said the SAR government would prioritise employment protection, enhancement of social security and welfare services, and improvements in housing policies and healthcare resource allocation in the coming year.

He also called for joint efforts to build a Macao with more efficient governance, stronger rule of law, a diversified and dynamic economy, richer cultural identity, improved social governance, and better public services.

Earlier in the day, approximately 550 guests attended the flag-raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square, marking the official start of the anniversary celebrations.