澳门自古即为中国领土的一部分。自16世纪中叶开埠以来,沧桑世变,世事更迭,客观上铸就了澳门作为国际贸易往来的中转港和中西思想文化交流的桥梁这一不争事实。中国改革开放以后,伴随着珠江三角洲经济的迅速崛起,粤港澳经济一体化格局已被具雏形,澳门的经济和社会地位也愈发显得重要。值此世纪之交,中国即将对澳门恢复行使主权,而澳门也因这一历史性转折而备受世人瞩目。为了让世界了解澳门曲折的发展历程和独特的政治、经济、文化及社会等,中山大学黄启臣教授 Macau has been part of Chinese territory since ancient times. Since the opening of the port in the middle of the 16th century, the vicissitudes of life and changes of world have objectively created the indisputable fact that Macao has served as a transit port for international trade and as a bridge for the exchange of ideas and cultures between China and the West. After China’s reform and opening up, along with the rapid economic rise in the Pearl River Delta, the pattern of economic integration among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao has taken shape and the economic and social status of Macao has become increasingly important. At the turn of the century, China is about to resume its exercise of sovereignty over Macao. As a result of this historic turning point, Macao has drawn much attention worldwide. In order to make the world aware of the tortuous course of development in Macao and the unique politics, economy, culture and society, Professor Huang Qichen from Sun Yat-sen University