City tasked to be a pilot demonstration area

Writer: Han Ximin  | Editor: Holly Wang  | From:  | Updated: 2019-07-26

Shenzhen has gained support from the Central Government to build a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

An official document on a guideline for supporting Shenzhen in building a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics was approved at a meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform Wednesday.

The meeting was presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

The country will support Shenzhen in building a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics, keeping firmly in mind the strategic intention of the CPC Central Committee to establish a special economic zone, according to the document.

In the development of the Shenzhen pilot demonstration area, it is imperative to unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the reform and opening up, fulfill the requirements of high-quality development, implement the innovation-driven development strategy, seize the important opportunities in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and strive to create a model city for a great modern socialist country, the statement said.

The document has sparked heated discussions in Shenzhen, a prominent test-bed of China’s reform and opening up.

Analysts say that being a demonstration area, Shenzhen needs to blaze a new trail for building a modern city featuring innovation-driven high-quality development that is replicable for the rest of China.

Tan Gang, vice president with Shenzhen Socialism Academy, said in an interview with the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily that the approval of the document means Shenzhen’s role as a pilot demonstration area has been included in the top-level design framework of the Central Government.

To achieve the goal, the city needs to continue to play a model role in deepening reform and widening opening up with the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

He urged Shenzhen to continue piloting innovation-driven development and enhance its role as a core city in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Xi said that deepening overall reform is an important manifestation of the CPC’s commitment to remaining true to its original aspiration and shouldering its founding mission.

As the reform goes deeper, it will be more necessary to shoulder responsibilities, take swift but steady steps, and forge ahead without taking a break, Xi said.