Special Economic Zone, China's first economic reform zone, in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept 6, 2010. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
Central government officials will continue to support the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to pilot further reforms, said Chinese President Hu Jintao before a gathering in Shenzhen to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the SEZ on September 6, 2010.
"The Central Government will, as always, support the brave exploration of the special economic zone as well as its role of testing and carrying out reforms ahead of others," said Hu in front of 2,000 people representing all walks of life in Shenzhen at a gathering at University Town in Nanshan District.
Hu called on the Shenzhen government to accelerate the transformation of the economic growth model, which he said was a "significant, strategic task concerning the country's overall economic and social development." Hu also called on the city to promote further political, cultural and social structural reform.
Hu said that officials need to introduce democratic elections, decision-making, management and supervision to safeguard the people's right to know, to participate, to express and to supervise.
Shenzhen Party Chief Wang Rong said the city will continue to act as a trail-blazer for the nation and build itself into a modern and international metropolis.
Li Ka-shing, chairman of Hong Kong's Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd., said the Shenzhen SEZ was the "driving force" of China s reform and opening up. "Overseas Chinese have been heartened and convinced by the achievements of the country's reform and opening up," said Li, who is Hong Kong s richest man.
Shenzhen is widely viewed as the cradle of China's dramatic transformation into a world economic and trade juggernaut. In August 1980, it became the first area in China to be designated as a special economic zone that could accept foreign investment, under reforms pioneered by late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
The reforms sparked an annual economic growth rate of 25.8 percent over the past 30 years in Shenzhen, compared with about 9.8 percent for the entire country, according to government figures. Shenzhen s GDP reached 820.1 billion RMB (121 billion USD) in 2009.
