General Secretary Supreme Leader’s important speech at the celebration meeting of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone spoke highly of the great achievements made in the construction of special economic zones, profoundly summed up the valuable experience of 40 years of reform, opening up and innovative development of special economic zones, and at the same time, focused on realizing the grand goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and building a broad vision of a community of human destiny, clarified the fundamental requirements for the construction of special economic zones under the new situation, systematically expounded the historical mission entrusted to Shenzhen by the CPC Central Committee in the new era, and pointed out the way forward for the new era of special economic zones. Reality develops from history. At the important historical node of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of special economic zones, it is undoubtedly of special and important significance to review the background of the establishment of special economic zones, sort out the development process of special economic zones, and clarify the position of special economic zones in the practice of reform and opening up, so as to create a new situation in the work of special economic zones, promote the great practice of reform and opening up at a new higher starting point, and write a new chapter in the great cause of Socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Special economic zones are a great initiative to promote reform, opening up and socialist modernization.
The establishment of special economic zones has its profound historical background, which is not only a strategic choice made by the party and the country to actively conform to the new trend of world political and economic development under the new historical conditions, but also a great pioneering work carried out by the party and the country to promote reform, opening up and socialist modernization on the basis of profoundly summing up historical experience.
Since 1970s, profound changes have taken place in the world political and economic structure. On the one hand, the hegemony of great powers between the United States and the Soviet Union has gradually turned into a stalemate, and the danger and possibility of the outbreak of world war have been greatly reduced. It has become the universal will of most countries to strive for peace and development. The Communist Party of China (CPC) keeps pace with the changes of the times and actively carries out overseas inspection and exchange activities. On the other hand, with the rise of the third wave of scientific and technological revolution, the world economy has developed rapidly, and the exchanges between countries have become increasingly close. In order to get rid of the shadow of the economic crisis quickly, major capitalist countries are generally faced with the need to adjust industrial structure and open up emerging markets, which provides a good opportunity for China to accelerate the introduction of foreign capital, technology and management methods. The changes in the world political and economic situation since the 1970s have provided favorable external conditions for the establishment of special economic zones in China.
After the founding of New China, a complete national economic system was gradually established, which laid an important foundation for the economic development of contemporary China. After the end of the "Cultural Revolution", the broad masses of cadres and people urgently demanded to reverse the chaotic situation caused by ten years of civil strife and put the cause of socialist construction back on the right track. At this important historical juncture, the CPC Central Committee actively complied with the trend of the times and the wishes of the people, convened the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party, and made a great decision to shift the focus of the Party’s work to economic construction and implement reform and opening up. China’s reform and opening up is aimed at the disadvantages of the original system and mechanism. To promote the cause of reform, opening up and socialist modernization, we should not only clarify the crux, but also identify the breakthrough. Considering China’s vast territory, large population and complicated situation, the reform and opening-up can only be carried out from the point to the surface, starting from the local area and then gradually spreading to the whole country. This is the macro thinking and strategic consideration of the establishment of special economic zones by the CPC Central Committee. In June, 1985, when meeting with foreign guests, Deng Xiaoping said, "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is an experiment. It remains to be seen whether we are on the right track. It is a new thing of socialism. Success is our wish, and failure is an experience. " It can be said that the establishment of special economic zones was carried out as a pioneer and experimental area of reform and opening up under the background of China’s reform and opening up and socialist modernization.
The establishment of China Special Economic Zone is the result of the interaction of international and domestic factors, history and reality. A clear understanding of the historical background of the establishment of special economic zones is helpful to understand the historical inevitability of the establishment of special economic zones and the arduous exploration and innovation in the process of their establishment.
Special economic zones are vivid epitome of the process of reform and opening up.
The establishment and development of special economic zones has gone through a process from brewing and putting forward to continuous improvement and upgrading, which is not only a microcosm of the historical process of reform and opening up, but also an interpretation of the path and strategy of reform and opening up from one side.
During the Central Working Conference in April 1979, Xi Zhongxun, the first secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, proposed at the meeting that he hoped the Central Committee would let Guangdong go first and let it go. Deng Xiaoping agreed with the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China’s proposal to set up processing zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou, which are adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, and said: It’s better to call it a special zone, since Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia started to call it a special zone! The central government has no money, so you can give some policies, and you can do it yourself and fight your way out. After the meeting, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council instructed Guangdong and Fujian provinces to further organize and demonstrate the pilot export special zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen, and put forward specific implementation plans and submit them to the Central Committee for examination and approval. After in-depth investigation and careful consideration, on July 15th, 1979, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council approved two reports of Guangdong Provincial Committee and Fujian Provincial Committee on implementing special policies and flexible measures for foreign economic activities, and agreed to pilot export special zones in Shenzhen and Zhuhai first, and then consider setting up special zones in Shantou and Xiamen after gaining experience. On August 26th, 1980, the 15th meeting of the 5th the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) decided to set aside certain areas to set up special economic zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou in Guangdong Province and Xiamen in Fujian Province, and approved the Regulations on Special Economic Zones in Guangdong Province. At this point, the construction of special economic zones was formally determined through legislative procedures.
In the early days of the establishment of special economic zones, with the correct leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the strong support of the people of the whole country, the broad masses of cadres and masses faced difficulties, forged ahead, fought bravely, resolutely implemented the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and made remarkable achievements in the fields of national economic growth, foreign export trade, economic management system reform, socialist spiritual civilization construction, and created many development miracles such as "Shenzhen Speed" that built a floor in three days. At the beginning of 1984, after witnessing the development achievements of special economic zones during his inspection in Guangdong, Deng Xiaoping wrote an inscription for Shenzhen Special Economic Zone: "The development and experience of Shenzhen have proved that our policy of establishing special economic zones is correct." The achievements made in the early days of the establishment of special economic zones have further strengthened the central government’s determination and belief in carrying out reform and opening up. On April 13, 1988, the first session of the Seventh National People’s Congress officially approved the establishment of Hainan Special Economic Zone, clearly demanding that the special economic zone play an important role as a window and demonstration for the national reform, opening up and modernization, thus creating a new situation for the development of special economic zones in China.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the political turmoil in the Soviet Union and the socialist countries in Eastern Europe continued to intensify, and the contradictions and problems accumulated in the process of reform and opening up began to stand out. At one time, there was a debate on the surnames of special economic zones, which caused considerable ideological resistance to the construction and development of special economic zones. In this regard, Deng Xiaoping pointed out in his southern talk: "The achievements of Shenzhen’s construction have clearly answered those who are worried about this or that. Last name of the SAR ‘ Society ’ No surname ‘ Capital ’ 。” This strongly refutes the doubts and questions about the construction of special economic zones and escorts the construction of special economic zones. With the publication of the Southern Talks and the convening of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the construction of special economic zones has entered a new stage of "increasing innovative advantages" and leaping development. Focusing on the central government’s plan and requirements of "increasing innovation advantages and by going up one flight of stairs", the special economic zones have made new breakthroughs in ownership reform, state-owned enterprise reform and price reform, initially established the basic framework of the socialist market economic system, and led the cause of reform and opening up to the outside world.
Since the 21st century, the trend of world political multipolarization, economic globalization and social informatization has developed in depth, and the pattern of multi-level, multi-channel and all-round opening to the outside world has been accelerated. Special economic zones are shouldering more arduous tasks in the new historical stage, with opportunities and challenges coexisting, and pressure and motivation coexisting. In the critical period of deepening reform in an all-round way and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, special economic zones continue to be the vanguard of reform, opening up and modernization, and have made outstanding achievements in adhering to new development concepts, deepening reform in an all-round way, opening up to the outside world in an all-round way, promoting the overall layout of the "five in one" and coordinating the promotion of the "four comprehensive" strategic layout. They have not only made new explorations and provided new experiences for the development of Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s cause, but also made important contributions to building a socialist modern country in an all-round way.
The development of special economic zones is a vivid epitome of the great practice of reform and opening up, which embodies the efforts and painstaking efforts of generations of builders of special economic zones, and interprets the China road and China wisdom of reform and opening up.
The historical position of special economic zones in the practice of reform and opening up
Since the reform and opening-up, the special economic zones have written a magnificent chapter in the historical process of building Socialism with Chinese characteristics, not only playing the role of "experimental field" in the system reform, but also playing an important "window" role in the opening-up, and showing the bright future of Socialism with Chinese characteristics to the world with world-renowned development achievements.
China’s reform and opening-up is a process of continuous accumulation, which is first tested, then summarized and then popularized. The introduction of reform measures requires some regions to try first, sum up experience, give full play to the role of "experimental field", and explore the way for the national reform and opening up. The special economic zones have fully carried forward the spirit of being bold, pioneering and hard-working, and made active explorations in the fields of economic system reform, political system reform and cultural system reform, providing valuable experience for promoting reforms at the national level. Under the background of deepening reform in an all-round way, special economic zones should have the courage to take responsibility and try first in all aspects of institutional reform, especially in important areas and key links, so as to provide more replicable and scalable experiences for the whole country.
Special economic zones are the earliest areas opened to the outside world in China since the reform and opening up, and they are also the most active areas for foreign economic exchanges. With the support of the central policy, special economic zones have introduced foreign capital, technology and management experience on a large scale, and insisted on the combination of "bringing in" and "going abroad", which not only played a positive role in foreign exchanges, but also further promoted the formation and development of China’s opening-up pattern. In February 1984, after inspecting the special economic zones, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "The special economic zones are a window, a window of technology, a window of management, a window of knowledge and a window of foreign policy." This is an image summary of the position and role of special economic zones in the practice of China’s reform and opening up in the early days of reform and opening up. With the globalization of the world economy and the development of China’s new pattern of comprehensive opening up, the "window" role of special economic zones in opening up will be further enhanced.
In the great practice of 40 years’ reform and opening-up, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone has achieved a historic leap from a backward border town to an international metropolis with global influence, from economic system reform to comprehensive deepening reform, from focusing on import and export trade to all-round and high-level opening-up, from economic development to coordinating the development of socialist material civilization, political civilization, spiritual civilization, social civilization and ecological civilization, and from solving food and clothing to a high-quality and comprehensive well-off society, creating a historic leap. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is the theme of all the Party’s theories and practices since the reform and opening up. The successful practice of special economic zones has fully proved that the line, principles and policies formed since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party are completely correct, which will not only further strengthen Socialism with Chinese characteristics’s road confidence, theoretical confidence, institutional confidence and cultural confidence, but also show the world the bright future and vigorous vitality of Socialism with Chinese characteristics with eloquent facts.
Today, the world is experiencing a great change that has never happened in a hundred years, and China is in a critical period to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The 40-year reform and opening-up practice in Shenzhen and other special economic zones has created great miracles and accumulated valuable experience. The new situation needs new responsibilities and calls for new actions. The construction of special economic zones in the new era should always maintain the spirit of "pioneering", "creative" and "dry" style, take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of special economic zones as a new starting point and a new opportunity, and strive to write more "spring stories" and create new and greater miracles that make the world sit up and take notice.
(Author: Chen Jinlong and Zhang Penghui, both special researchers of the New Era Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought Research Center, the supreme leader of the Ministry of Education)
