Shenzhen: Lodestar of China's Reform

and Opening-up 

By WU SAIFENG, SONG XIAOGU & ZENG BO

THE Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC in 1978 has always been regarded as the starting point of China's reform and opening-up drive. Since there was no previous development model to follow and most Chinese people were fettered by old conventions, the Chinese government decided to set up four experimental Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the coastal cities of Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou in Guangdong Province, and Xiamen in Fujian Province, in an attempt to find a suitable way to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.

    Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was one of the earliest SEZs to open to the outside world. The whole process of its foundation, development and final success shows its people's pioneering spirit and bold moves under the leadership of the CPC. And Shenzhen's success as a pilot city serves as a guide in China's reform and opening-up.

Initiation of a Success Story

Shenzhen has served as a banner of reform and opening-up in its 30 years' development.

    It was the spring of 1979, a few months after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC concluded in Beijing.

    Xi Zhongxun, secretary of the Guangdong provincial committee of the CPC and Yang Shangkun, Wu Nansheng and other officials under Xi's leadership were ambitious and ready for the reforms. Their sharp minds told them that, "It is time to free people from old ideas and embrace a great economic growth."

    After making a full analysis of Guangdong's advantages – primarily its geographic closeness to Hong Kong and Macao and the kinship of local residents with the diasporic Chinese community, facilitating easy access to the outside world – Xi proposed to the CPC central committee that they make use of the positive domestic and international environment and Guangdong's advantages, and let the province take the lead in trial economic reforms.