The Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government recently released its Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the MSAR (2026–2030). Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai sat down for an exclusive interview with Xinhua journalists at the MSAR Government Headquarters by Nam Van Lake to discuss the contents and key priorities of the plan.
Upon entering Sam’s office, two small calligraphy works reading “Macao” and “Moving Ahead” were placed on the left and right sides of his desk. “I bought these calligraphy pieces by college students at a cultural market in Taipa,” Sam said.
“Macao is a pearl in the palm of the motherland, a blessed land, and a home where hundreds of thousands of residents strive, live, and entrust their dreams. As Chief Executive, I must always keep Macao in my heart,” he said.
Sam explained that displaying these words serves as a constant reminder to himself and his governance team to uphold their shared goals. “27 years after returning to the motherland, Macao cannot stand still; it must keep moving forward.”
“Macao Moving Ahead” is the goal, and the new five-year plan – spanning approximately 86,000 Chinese characters and 35 core development indicators – serves as the roadmap.
Vertically, it aligns upward with the top-level design of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan while connecting downward with everyday community life; historically, it extends Macao’s planning trajectory through time while expanding horizontally to engage Hengqin and the broader Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) hinterland.
Deeply Aligning with the Nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan
The year 2026 marks the start of both the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Macao’s Third Five-Year Plan.
Sam noted that the national 15th Five-Year Plan outlines new arrangements for Macao, offering major new opportunities. “The core requirement is to integrate into and serve the overall development of the country. We must serve the 15th Five-Year Plan and even longer-term national development.”
He underlined that the MSAR Government has established a special task force adhering to the principle of “serving the country’s needs with Macao’s strengths.” Taking national arrangements regarding Macao as the fundamental guidance for formulation, the government conducted 40 research trips and 36 special studies to fully align Macao’s development with national strategies.
From Macao’s strategic positioning as “One Center, One Platform, One Base” to key areas like appropriate economic diversification and Macao-Hengqin integration, and further to assisting the country in joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), “the Third Five-Year Plan fully reflects Macao’s actual conditions, development strategies, and the national positioning for Macao,” Sam explained. All 35 core economic and social development indicators in the plan are fully linked to the target indicators of the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
Sam highlighted that Macao’s five-year planning achieves an organic integration of a highly open market economy and scientifically coordinated governance. It has carved out a unique development path featuring a “capable government” paired with an “efficient market,” fully demonstrating its scientific rigor, superiority, and the institutional strengths of “One Country, Two Systems.”
Reaching directly into community life and public wellbeing
“The starting point and ultimate goal of formulating the Third Five-Year Plan are social security and public wellbeing – focusing on our citizens’ sense of happiness, fulfillment, and security,” Sam emphasized.
Through 40 days of public consultation, the government received 1,716 submission forms and 8,230 specific suggestions, reflecting active participation across all sectors of Macao society. Many recommendations originated from neighborhood communities – covering area revitalization, structural inspections of aging buildings, and improved public transit connections. These seemingly minor demands occupy a significant portion of the plan.
Sam stated that the MSAR Government will adhere to the principle of “doing our utmost within our capabilities, providing targeted support, and directing resources downward.” A series of policy measures will be introduced in key sectors including social security, healthcare, youth development, and housing security.
He also pointed out that urban renewal remains an urgent task and a key area for improvement in Macao. Although Macao performs well in per capita GDP, challenges persist regarding urban aesthetics and a large inventory of aging buildings. Additionally, with various cultural heritage sites scattered across urban districts, preservation efforts must be advanced in a coordinated manner.
To address this, a dedicated chapter in the Plan is devoted to urban renewal. Sam noted that over the next five years, the construction of a “Happy Macao” will proceed through tangible, clear, and perceptible projects and measures.
Carrying the blueprint through to completion
From the First Five-Year Plan in 2016 to the Second in 2021, and now to the Third, Macao’s five-year planning framework has steadily matured.
Taking the overarching theme of “appropriate economic diversification” as an example: the progression from “promoting” in the First Plan, to “accelerating” in the Second, and now “solidly advancing” in the Third clearly illustrates the trajectory of Macao’s economic transformation – from building foundations to accelerating progress, and now emphasizing quality and efficiency.
“The continuity of this planning extends far beyond a five-year horizon,” Sam said. Breaking free from short-term constraints, the Third Five-Year Plan lays out strategic, cross-cycle major projects such as a technology research and development industrial park and the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town. With construction timelines spanning five to 10 years, these initiatives demonstrate the MSAR Government’s commitment to sustained, long-term effort.
Moving forward, Sam explained that the MSAR Government will implement the plan’s main tasks through three key lists: key projects, key task responsibilities, and major reform measures. “Each list contains concrete projects, clear goals, designated responsible departments, and implementation timelines,” he said.
Advancing GBA synergy via Macao-Hengqin integration
A core highlight of this long-term, problem-solving plan is the dedicated chapter on “Deepening Integrated Development of ‘Macao + Hengqin’.”
Sam stated that the Third Five-Year Plan aligns closely with the new “Macao + Hengqin” positioning. Driven by technology and education, it aims to deepen the “soft connectivity” of rules and mechanisms alongside the “hard connectivity” of infrastructure to create landmark projects and industrial space carriers. By 2030, the added value of the four key characteristic industries in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is targeted to reach 65 percent or more of its GDP, with substantial growth in the number of Macao residents and enterprises operating there, alongside a more comprehensive public service and social security system.
The horizontal dimension extends beyond Hengqin. “As a member of the Greater Bay Area, we must benchmark against Guangdong’s overall planning when formulating our own plan,” Sam noted, adding that from the start of the drafting process, he emphasized aligning plans with Guangdong, particularly Zhuhai. Furthermore, Macao and Hong Kong have maintained communication, with planning teams conducting reciprocal visits to reference each other’s planning visions.
“Therefore, in terms of task setting, project layouts, and supporting measures, this plan effectively promotes regional coordination and synergy,” Sam concluded.
Blending vertical alignment with horizontal reach, the Plan captures national strategic heights, local community warmth, historical depth, and Greater Bay Area width. Ultimately, every element points toward the same target: Macao moving forward, step by step. – Xinhua
N.B. The translation of the unabridged statement from Chinese was arranged, reviewed and edited by the Post.
MSAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai gestures during an exclusive Xinhua interview at Government Headquarters in Nam Van on August 17. – Xinhua
