(Focus on China face to face) What signal does the central government send to Shenzhen with the "big gift package"?

  China News Service, Beijing, October 18th, title: What signal does the "big gift package" sent by the central government send to Shenzhen?

  ——Interview with Peng Sen, President of China Economic System Reform Research Association

  China News Agency reporter Wang Enbo

  Recently, the Office of the Central Government and the Office of the State Council issued the "Implementation Plan for the Pilot Comprehensive Reform of Building a Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Shenzhen (2020-2025)", giving Shenzhen more reform autonomy.

This plan is regarded as a policy "big gift package" given by the central government to Shenzhen.

Recently, the Office of the Central Government and the Office of the State Council issued the "Implementation Plan for the Pilot Comprehensive Reform of Building a Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Shenzhen (2020-2025)", giving Shenzhen more reform autonomy.

Peng Sen, chairman of the China Society for Economic System Reform and former deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Focus on China" to give an authoritative interpretation of this.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Hou Yu

  What are the "gifts" in the "gifts" and what opportunities will it bring to Shenzhen's reform and opening up in the new era?

Peng Sen, chairman of the China Society for Economic System Reform and former deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "China Focus Face-to-face" to give an authoritative interpretation of this.

  The interview record is as follows:

China News Service: The central government last year proposed to support Shenzhen in building a pilot demonstration zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics. How is this different from the previous special economic zones?

Has Shenzhen's positioning at the national macro development level changed?

  Peng Sen: The central government’s proposal to support Shenzhen’s construction of a pilot demonstration zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics is a very important strategic decision.

This means that the reforms of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, especially market-oriented reforms and higher-level opening-up, have opened a higher goal, a higher level, and a higher starting point.

  Everyone knows that Shenzhen, as a special economic zone since the 1980s, is a pioneer, pathfinder, and experimental field for reforms.

In the past 40 years, under the leadership of the party, the people of Shenzhen have emancipated their minds, forged ahead, and worked hard. They have achieved earth-shaking changes and great achievements in the economic system, scientific research and innovation, opening to the outside world, and social governance. Build into an international and modern innovative city.

Under such circumstances, the central government has further proposed to build Shenzhen into a pilot demonstration zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which puts forward a higher and all-round requirement for Shenzhen.

  First of all, building a socialist pilot demonstration zone means that socialism with Chinese characteristics will continue to be explored and improved throughout the country.

Especially after the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China put forward the task of upholding and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities, who will be the forerunner and pathfinder?

The central government is tantamount to further entrusting this task to Shenzhen.

Therefore, on the one hand, Shenzhen must do a good job in the reform and opening up of the economic system, and do a good job in innovation and development. At the same time, it must also explore the modernization of its social governance system and governance capabilities.

  Shenzhen’s per capita GDP has reached US$30,000, which is equivalent to the level of a high-income country in the world.

The per capita disposable income of Shenzhen residents has reached more than 60,000 yuan, which may be the country's development level in the next 15 years or so.

Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for Shenzhen to study first, as a pioneering demonstration zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics, how to establish a governance system with Chinese characteristics and modernize governance capabilities at a higher level.

While realizing economic development, we should pursue democracy and the rule of law, fairness and justice, and realize the new development pattern of co-construction, co-governance, and common prosperity.

I think this is the most important.

  Second, Shenzhen is still to be a pioneer, explorer, and vanguard in China's market-oriented reforms and high-level opening to the outside world.

In this regard, the central government has also placed higher hopes on Shenzhen.

40 years ago, Shenzhen relied on bold trials and bold breakthroughs to make a bloody road. It is still the case today.

It is hoped that in terms of market-oriented reforms, Shenzhen will play a role in piloting, exploring, and innovating in accordance with a series of requirements for market-oriented reforms put forward by the Central Committee at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. Promotional experience.

  Thirdly, there is a very important point. Shenzhen's construction of a pilot demonstration zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics is also a new exploration of the way China's reform advances.

This question involves how to further grant Shenzhen some comprehensive authorization on the basis of the special zone, and conduct comprehensive reform exploration through comprehensive authorization.

China News Agency reporter: The "comprehensive authorization" you mentioned has indeed attracted much attention recently. What exactly is the "comprehensive authorization reform"?

Why does the plan position it as "a key move for Shenzhen to build a socialist pilot zone"?

  Penson: Comprehensive authorization is the core of this plan and the biggest highlight.

The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone itself is also an authorization. The establishment of the special economic zone in 1980 is a special policy and flexible measure.

According to what Comrade Deng Xiaoping said at the time, "the central government can give you some policies, and you can do it yourself and break a bloody path."

This is a kind of entrustment and a kind of authorization.

Peng Sen, chairman of the China Society for Economic System Reform and former deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "China Focus".

Photo by China News Agency reporter Hou Yu

  In the final analysis, such special policies and flexible measures at the time were many of the requirements or policies of the central government. They were implemented in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone if they were appropriate, and alternative measures could be taken if they were inappropriate.

But the comprehensive authorization we are talking about now is to make a brand new attempt and exploration of reform forms in an environment of comprehensively deepening reforms and comprehensively governing the country according to law.

  What is the comprehensive authorization method?

Specifically, it is a list-type and batch-type application and approval.

In accordance with the overall requirements of the central government, for example, Shenzhen will be built into a modern, international and innovative city by 2025, by 2035 it will be a city model for China to build a socialist modern power, and by 2050 it will be highly competitive, innovative, and influential. To achieve these goals, it is necessary to give sufficient supporting policies and powers to the world’s benchmark cities.

Through this kind of list-type and batch-type applications and authorizations, in important areas and key links, the power needed to solve some major institutional problems is truly handed over to Shenzhen.

In this case, Shenzhen will have comprehensive responsibilities and comprehensive reform autonomy to comprehensively promote market-oriented reforms and a higher level of opening to the outside world.

  Moreover, the implementation plan approved by the central government this time covers the period from 2020 to 2025, and it is clear that the first comprehensive list of authorized items will be issued.

As work progresses, there may be second and third batches. As long as the system and mechanism obstacles encountered in the reform and the constraints of existing laws and regulations encountered, some problems in the superstructure and production relations need to be further resolved. Those who open up a path for the liberation of productivity can report to the central government through a list.

After proper procedures, those involving laws shall be approved and authorized by the National People's Congress; those involving certain powers and responsibilities of the State Council or the rules and regulations of the State Council shall be authorized by the State Council.

This is an important and comprehensive attempt to further improve the relationship between the central and local governments and give local governments differentiated reform enthusiasm.

Reporter from China News Service: The comprehensive reform pilot has given Shenzhen a great degree of decentralization. 27 reform measures and 40 first batch of authorized items were launched in a package, especially involving some key areas and key links.

What is the purpose of the central government to give Shenzhen such a large degree of autonomy?

  Peng Sen: This comprehensive reform pilot involves more economic and social fields, including improving the market-oriented allocation system and mechanism of factors, improving the technological innovation environment system, creating a market-oriented legalized international business environment, and improving a high-level open economy System, improve the people’s livelihood service supply system, improve the ecological environment and urban space governance system in six areas.

  As far as a city is concerned, regardless of the fields of economic management and social management, especially the focus of major breakthroughs in current reforms, they are basically covered.

Among these six areas, I think the most critical part is still the first part-the market-oriented allocation of factors.

Prior to this, in April, the central government had just issued the "Opinions on Building a More Complete System and Mechanism for Market-oriented Allocation of Factors", which provided comprehensive opinions on how to accelerate market-oriented allocation of the five major elements.

However, to advance these reforms, we must first find a reform pioneer, demonstration site, and experimental area. Shenzhen is the one chosen.

The first demonstration in this regard is of decisive significance in driving the nationwide market reform.

Peng Sen, chairman of the China Society for Economic System Reform and former deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "China Focus".

Photo by China News Agency reporter Hou Yu

Reporter from China News Service: It also involves vigorous authorization and decentralization and opening up to the outside world. How is Shenzhen different from the ongoing free trade zone and free trade port construction?

  Peng Sen: Before that, everyone paid more attention to the Hainan Free Trade Port policy. It should be said that the situation in Shenzhen is different.

Hainan Free Trade Port focuses on making some comprehensive explorations in opening to the outside world at a higher level, including structural opening to the outside world, and institutional opening to the outside world will have greater adjustments.

But from the perspective of Hainan, it does not require all its policies to be replicated and promoted. Instead, on Hainan’s 35,000-square-kilometer island, relevant policies will be implemented through the construction of a “free trade island” to achieve a higher level of foreign exchange. Open system innovation.

  Shenzhen is based on the land of China. It is the biggest difference to be able to provide some reproducible and extendable experience as soon as possible.

The policy given to Shenzhen by the central government this time is actually no worse than the policy given to Hainan’s "Free Trade Island". It should be even stronger. In particular, it has proposed more legal authorizations to encourage Shenzhen to speed up in the new economic field. Legislative innovation is very good.

The data picture shows the city of Shenzhen lights up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone.

China News Agency reporter Chen Wenshe

Reporter from China News Service: In the international arena, are there any examples of Shenzhen development that can be referred to or compared?

How to position Shenzhen from the "world map" for its next development?

  Peng Sen: After 40 years of development, Shenzhen has grown from a small fishing village and an agricultural county with a GDP of only about 200 million yuan to an international and modern innovative city. It is an innovation and model that has never been seen in the history of human development.

Internationally, Singapore can be regarded as a relatively similar situation, but what Singapore lacks is the vast market hinterland. It is an island-type and urban-type economy, and its export-oriented economy is highly dependent on the international environment.

  Shenzhen, on the other hand, is backed by the vast 9.6 million square kilometers of the motherland market, with national support and attention, and the development of Shenzhen cannot be separated from the national support. Regardless of talents, capital, and scientific and technological achievements, they are gathered in Shenzhen from all aspects. .

The future development of Shenzhen will provide the country with new development momentum and new system examples.

Therefore, Shenzhen is following a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a unique exploration process, and it will become a typical example of the development of modern cities for all mankind and the world. I have no doubt about this.

(Finish)