Shenzhen ‘makes 5 historic leaps’

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, poses for a group photo with participants of a grand gathering held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 14, 2020. Xi attended the gathering and delivered an important speech on Wednesday.

Presdient Xi Jinping said yesterday that Shenzhen has made five historic leaps forward since the establishment of the special economic zone (SEZ) 40 years ago.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a grand gathering marking the 40th anniversary of the Shenzhen SEZ.

According to Xi, the five historic leaps have seen Shenzhen change:

— From a small backward border town to an international metropolis with global influence;

— From implementing economic system reforms to deepening reform in all respects;

— From mainly developing foreign trade to pursuing high-level opening up in an all-round way;

— From advancing economic development to coordinating socialist material, political, cultural and ethical, social and ecological advancement;

— From ensuring that people’s basic needs are met to completing the building of a high-quality moderately prosperous society in all respects.

SZ experience

Xi stressed the valuable experience from the development miracles of the SEZs including Shenzhen.

Forty years of reform and opening up of Shenzhen and other SEZs have created great miracles, accumulated valuable experience, and deepened the understanding of the laws of building the SEZs of socialism with Chinese characteristics, said Xi.

The president identified the valuable experience in 10 aspects:

— Adhere to the Party’s leadership over the construction of the SEZs and always keep the construction in the right direction.

— Uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and make the system more mature and stable through reform practices.

— Adhere to the concept that development is of paramount importance, insist on the practices of daring to try and daring to be the first, and pursue reform breakthroughs through creative thoughts.

— Remain committed to opening up on all fronts and continuously enhance the attractiveness of “bringing in” and the competitiveness of “going out.”

— Take innovation as the primary driving force and win the upper hand in the global technological revolution and industrial transformation.

— Follow the people-centered philosophy of development to allow the people to benefit more from the achievements of reform and development in a fairer way.

— Ensure scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, judicial impartiality and universal law abiding to make rule of law an important guarantee for the development of the SEZs.

— Carry out the philosophy of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” to achieve sustained development of economy and society as well as ecology and environment in a comprehensive and coordinated way.

— Implement the fundamental principle of “one country, two systems” in a comprehensive and accurate way, and promote the integrated development of the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao.

— Give full play to the leading and exemplary role of the SEZs while making overall plans for the country, so that they can contribute more to national development.

People-centered growth

Xi stressed solid implementation of the people-centered philosophy of development in the reform and development of SEZs.

He called for efforts to explore a more flexible policy system and a more scientific management system in terms of domestic and foreign trade, investment and financing, finance and taxation, financial innovation, as well as personnel exit and entry.