“一国两制”

“一国两制”，即“一个国家，两种制度”，是中国政府为实现国家和平统一而提出的基本国策。“一国两制”的基本内容是：在一个中国的前提下，国家的主体坚持社会主义制度；香港、澳门、台湾是中华人民共和国不可分割的部分，它们作为特别行政区保持原有的资本主义制度长期不变。在国际上代表中国的，只能是中华人民共和国。“一国两制”是中国的一个伟大创举，是中华民族为世界和平与发展做出的新贡献。按照“一国两制”方针，中国政府先后于1997年和1999年对香港和澳门恢复行使主权。香港、澳门回归祖国以来，“一国两制”实践取得举世公认的成功。事实证明，“一国两制”是解决历史遗留的香港、澳门问题的最佳方案，也是香港、澳门回归后保持长期繁荣稳定的最佳制度。继续推进“一国两制”事业，是中央政府、特别行政区政府和包括港澳同胞在内的全国各族人民的共同使命。中央贯彻“一国两制”方针坚持两点：一是坚定不移，不会变、不动摇；二是全面准确，确保“一国两制”在港澳的实践不走样、不变形，始终沿着正确方向前进。当然，作为一项前无古人的开创性事业，“一国两制”的实践不会一帆风顺，需要在实践中不断探索。

"One Country, Two Systems"

"One Country, Two Systems" is a basic national policy devised by the Chinese government for realizing peaceful reunification of the country. Under the "One Country, Two Systems" framework, there is but one China, and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are inseparable parts of the People’s Republic of China, but they will retain their existing capitalist system for a prolonged period of time as special administrative regions, while the rest of China implements a socialist system. Internationally, however, the PRC alone represents China. The "One Country, Two Systems" formula is a remarkable Chinese invention and an important contribution that China has made to world peace and development.

In line with this policy the Chinese government resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997 and Macao in 1999. It has been a widely acknowledged success since the return of Hong Kong and Macao to China, proved to be the best possible solution to the issues of Hong Kong and Macao – issues left over from history, and credited for sustained prosperity and stability there.

It is a shared mission of the central government, the administrations of the two special administrative regions, and the Chinese people including the people of Hong Kong and Macao to continue implementing the "One Country, Two Systems" model. The central government follows two principles in this regard. First, it remains committed to this model and will never change or waver on its position. Second, the model must be implemented exactly as it was originally agreed upon without any distortion. Unprecedented in history, this groundbreaking endeavor will not be smooth sailing, and there will be much to learn along the way.