In the years to come, Shenzhen will take new opportunities in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to build the city into a pinnacle of high-quality development, a model for the rule of law, an exemplary city with an advanced culture, a benchmark city for people’s well-being, and a pioneer in sustainable development.
The remarks were made by Shenzhen Mayor Chen Rugui at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing on Thursday.
Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui and mayors of Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou — three of China’s first four special economic zones — met the press on achievements in economic development the three cities in Guangdong have made in the past 40 years, as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the special economic zones, de facto experimental areas to pilot reforms before their rollout nationwide.
Shenzhen will increase its appeal to high-end international professionals and investors. It will highlight such emerging industries as digital economy, bioeconomy and marine economy to achieve high-quality development, Mayor Chen said.
In the development of the Shenzhen pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics, it is imperative to adhere to reform and opening up, fulfill the requirements of high-quality development and implement an innovation-driven development strategy, according to the mayor.
“We are carrying out a series of innovative reforms. Everything is going smoothly,” he told the reporters. “A number of innovation platforms are emerging. The cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong bears fruit, especially in the development of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone.”
As one of China’s most important economic, financial and innovative hubs and an international city of innovation, Shenzhen, dubbed “China’s Silicon Valley,” has been a flagship for China’s high-tech development.
The mayor gave credit for Shenzhen’s dazzling success in the past 40 years to its unswerving efforts to boost innovation and upgrade industrial structures through technological innovations.
“We promote market-oriented innovation and create a sound culture and ecology for innovation as well as a complete industrial chain for innovation,” Chen said.
According to him, one out of every 10 Shenzheners on average build a startup. The new economy contributes to 60 percent of the city’s GDP while the strategic emerging industries account for nearly 40 percent of the city’s GDP, he said.
Shenzhen is home to more than 70,000 high-tech enterprises and the second-biggest number of State-level high-tech companies in the country, which stands at 17,000. The input in research accounts for 4.9 percent of the city’s GDP, in line with that of other developed cities.
The city also leads the globe in innovation in electronic information.