Beijing Launches New Think Tank to Advance "One Country, Two Systems" Research

Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, joined the official opening of the Centre for Hong Kong and Macao Studies in the Chinese capital on Wednesday.

The new state-supported research institution, established under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), seeks to strengthen theoretical understanding and implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.

Organizers said the centre’s primary goal is to intensify research into and dissemination of President Xi Jinping’s major statements and directives on Hong Kong and Macao work. It will also carry out applied policy studies aimed at resolving long-term strategic challenges confronting the two special administrative regions (SARs).

Gao Xiang, President of CASS, co-chaired the inauguration ceremony. The centre receives direct support from the Central Hong Kong and Macao Work Office and is positioned as a key platform for in-depth, forward-looking research.

Senior officials from both SARs attended the event, including Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki and Macao’s Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam. The gathering brought together leading scholars in law, economics, and political science from major mainland Chinese universities and institutions, as well as experts from Hong Kong and Macao.

The launch reflects ongoing central government efforts to bolster academic and policy support for the SARs’ development and their deeper integration with national priorities.