“One Country, Two Systems"

“One Country, Two Systems"——一国两制

"One Country, Two Systems" is a policy allowing two systems to coexist in one country. It is a basic national policy put forward by the Chinese government to support peaceful reunification.

Issues relating to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have been carried over from history. Resolving these questions and realizing China's national reunification are the common aspirations of the Chinese nation.

In the early 1980s, to achieve these goals, Deng Xiaoping put forward a creative concept: "One Country, Two Systems", which was first applied to the outstanding issues relating to Hong Kong and Macao. Deng's proposal was that subject to the precondition of accepting the principle of. One China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan could retain their existing capitalist systems, while the rest of China would continue under the socialist system.

Under the policy of "One Country, Two Systems", the Chinese government and the British government signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong in December 1984, after two years' negotiation. Hong Kong rejoined China on July 1, 1997, the common aspiration of the Chinese people thus realized. In April 1987, the Chinese government and the Portuguese government signed the Joint Declaration on the Question of Macao. Macao returned to China on December 20, 1999. Since the return of Hong Kong and Macao, the "One Country, Two Systems" model has proven a success recognized by all. The success of the model has proven that it is the best solution to solving the questions of Hong Kong and Macao and the best system to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in these two special regions.

The 19th CPC National Congress in 2017 made upholding "One Country, Two Systems" and unification an important component of the basic principles of Chinese socialism in the new era.  T'he report to the 19th CPC National Congress stated: Maintaining lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao and achieving China's full reunification are essential to realizing national rejuvenation. We must ensure both the central government's overall jurisdiction over the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and a high degree of autonomy in the two regions We should ensure that "One Country, Two Systems" does not change its nature in theory, remains a steadfast commitment in principle, and is never undermined or distorted in practice.

Resolving the Taiwan question to realize China's complete reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people, and is in the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. We must uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, promote the peaceful development of cross- Straits relations, create deeper economic cooperation and cultural exchange between the two sides of the Straits, and encourage fellow Chinese on both sides to oppose all separatist activities and work together to realize Chinese national rejuvenation.