On March 26, 1987, a historic moment left a strong mark in the history of Sino-Portuguese relations. On this day, the governments of China and Portugal initialled the "Joint Declaration on the Question of Macao" in Beijing, laying a solid foundation for the smooth transition of Macao and its eventual return to the embrace of the motherland.
Macau, a small peninsula on the west side of the Pearl River estuary, has been settled by the Portuguese since the mid-16th century. Hundreds of years of colonial rule have made Macau a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures. However, as the times have changed, so has Macau's fortunes.
On 26 March 1987, representatives of the Chinese and Portuguese governments signed the Joint Declaration on the Question of Macao in Beijing, announcing that the Chinese Government would resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macao on 20 December 1999. The signing of this joint statement is not only the result of several rounds of negotiations between the Chinese and Portuguese governments, but also a response to the attention and expectations of the international community on the Macao issue.
At the initialing ceremony, the signatures of representatives of the two governments symbolized the end of 442 years of Portuguese rule and the beginning of a new chapter in Macao's return to the motherland. This historic decision has been widely supported and welcomed by the Chinese and Portuguese peoples, including Macao compatriots.
The signing of the Joint Declaration has provided a political guarantee and legal basis for Macao's smooth transition. On this basis, China and Portugal have set up the China-Portugal Joint Liaison Group and the Working Group on the Handover of Land, Property and Other Affairs between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, which are responsible for handling matters related to Macao's transition period.
Macao's return to the motherland is not only a proper solution to the problems left over from history, but also a successful practice of the Chinese Government's great concept of "one country, two systems." After Macao's return to the motherland, it maintained its original capitalist system and way of life, and at the same time, with the support of the central government, remarkable achievements were made in economic, social, cultural and other fields.
Looking back at the initialling of the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration, we cannot help but sigh at the great turning point in history. The smooth return of Macao has not only laid a solid foundation for Macao's prosperity and stability, but also provided a successful example for the international community, demonstrating the possibility of resolving issues left over from history through peaceful negotiations. Today, we commemorate this historic event, not only to remember the past, but also to look forward to the future, and jointly look forward to a better tomorrow for Macao under the framework of "one country, two systems".
#澳门回归##历史上的今天#