[China Net Review] In the new round of reform and opening up, why does Shenzhen become a pioneer again?
History is always engraved with eternity on iconic nodes-in a year without confusion, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone once again took the lead in sounding a new round of reform and opening up.
On October 11, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the “Implementation Plan for the Comprehensive Reform Pilot Program of Building a Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Shenzhen (2020-2025)” (referred to as the “Plan”), giving Shenzhen priority areas and key areas. More autonomy in link reforms will support Shenzhen to advance reform and opening up at a higher starting point, higher level and higher goals.
The "Plan" focuses on the market-oriented configuration of factors, optimization of the business environment, and urban space utilization, and directly authorizes the relevant authority to Shenzhen in a package.
Let this city take the lead in increasing institutional openness and become "a city model for a modern socialist country."
In August 2019, the central government made a major decision to support Shenzhen in building a pilot demonstration zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics, opening a new chapter in Shenzhen's reform and opening up.
The promulgation of the "Plan" is another major move to promote Shenzhen's reform and opening up in the new era. It is a key measure for building a pioneering demonstration zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics and a new exploration of innovative reform methods.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
40 years ago, as the "experimental field" and "window" of China's reform and opening up, Shenzhen was given the right to take precedence.
Today, the new practice and development of socialism with Chinese characteristics have given the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone a new mission.
From "first trial" to "first demonstration", why did the times choose Shenzhen again?
Reform, opening up and innovation are the foundation of Shenzhen's city; being brave and exploring boldly are Shenzhen's distinctive genes.
Here was the birth of the country’s first wholly foreign-owned enterprise; here was the first to reform the personnel system; the first joint-stock insurance company was founded here; here was the first to explore the minimum wage system in the mainland; “time is money, efficiency is life” for the first time here It was raised openly...In the past 40 years since its establishment, Shenzhen has created more than 1,000 national firsts.
Pathfinders time after time and pioneer time after time, Shenzhen has transformed from a coastal fishing village into an international city full of charm, power, vitality and innovation.
It has the third largest container port in the world, the most continental port in Asia, and one of the five largest air ports in China.
The GDP of Shenzhen has increased from 196 million yuan in 1979 to 2.69 trillion yuan in 2019, with an average annual GDP growth rate of over 20%, and its per capita GDP ranks first in the country.
If the reform and opening up created Shenzhen, then Shenzhen is a microcosm of the great achievements of China's reform and opening up.
Today's China needs a new round of higher-level reforms and opening up to create a brand-new modern demonstration highland. It must not only lead the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, but also replicate this new model throughout the country.
Shenzhen, which has innovative genes and sufficient economic accumulation, has once again been pushed to the forefront.
Economically, Shenzhen's GDP ranks among the top five Asian cities and ranks among the top 30 cities in the world. In terms of technology, Shenzhen has more than 20,000 PCT international patent applications, accounting for 43% of China's total, and has fostered 7 Fortune 500 companies; Ecologically, Shenzhen leads China in introducing ecological control lines, and has built nearly a thousand parks. The annual average PM2.5 concentration is the best among large cities in China. In terms of people's livelihood, Shenzhen will be in nine major categories of education, medical care, health, and employment in 2019. Expenditure in the field of people's livelihood is 301.3 billion yuan, accounting for 66.2% of the total expenditure; in terms of the rule of law, under the perennial immersion of market culture, individuals and enterprises have a high spirit of contract and awareness of the rule of law.
Standing at a new historical node, Shenzhen must assume a greater mission of reform, opening up, and innovation. By continuing to deepen reform and opening up, promoting innovation, and stimulating new development vitality, Shenzhen must assume the important task of China's next round of reform experiments.
In particular, under the current situation of increasing domestic and foreign environmental uncertainty, Shenzhen, which is at the forefront of China's reform, opening up and innovation, needs to show the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, set an example, and push reform, opening up and innovation in depth.
Shenzhen’s exploration has provided many experiences and enlightenments for China’s reform and opening up, such as properly handling the relationship between the government and the market, fully respecting market forces, and letting the market play a decisive role; actively participating in international division of labor and cooperation, embedding in the global value chain, and following international rules "Playing basketball"; use people as a text, cultivate diversified innovative talents, take independent innovation as the leading strategy for urban development, etc.
Today, in the wave of China's promotion of a new pattern of comprehensive opening up, the former "first mover" has once again taken the lead.
At the same time, the free trade zone, free trade port, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other China's new round of reform and opening up are also riding the wind and waves and striding forward. The development experience of Shenzhen and other special zones will provide valuable insights.
Looking at the whole country, the more open and international Chinese cities are exploring new experiences and new paths according to local conditions and creating their own "specialties."
Suzhou makes full use of the advantages of the pilot free trade zone to explore the way for the first to build a new development pattern of "double circulation"; Beijing's master plan clearly establishes a world-class harmonious and livable capital; Shanghai plans to build an excellent global city by 2050... New heights of reform and opening up in the new era are constantly emerging. On the big stage of history, more and more "Shenzhen" will write new and greater miracles.
Author: Yi Qi Bin