Research on the Institutional Practice of Guangdong–Macao Cooperation over the 26 Years since Macao’s Return to China— On the Implications of Regional Governance under the “One Country, Two Systems” Framework

Over the past 26 years since Macao’s return to China, the institutional operation of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework in Macao has continued to deepen, with Guangdong–Macao cooperation emerging as a crucial regional pathway for Macao’s integration into the national development system. From the perspective of area studies and Hong Kong–Macao studies, this article conceptualizes Guangdong–Macao cooperation as a concrete form of cross-institutional regional interaction under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. It systematically examines the evolutionary logic and institutional significance of such cooperation in areas including economic and trade relations, infrastructure connectivity, industrial coordination, and social integration since the handover. The study argues that through functional complementarity and regulatory alignment, Guangdong–Macao cooperation has effectively expanded Macao’s socio-economic development space while preserving a high degree of autonomy and institutional differentiation. This process demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework at the level of regional governance. The experience discussed in this article provides an important case for understanding the role of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions in China’s regional development strategies and the long-term operation of the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.