Blueprints for Growth UnveiledThe cities of Shenzhen, Xiamen, Zhuhai and Shantou, which celebrated their 20th anniversary on Saturday as China's first special economic zones, have mapped out their development plans for the 21st century.Hainan Province, which 12 years ago became the nation's largest special economic zone, has also set its modernization targets. Zhang Gaoli, secretary of the Communist Party of China in Shenzhen, said the goal for Shenzhen is to basically "realize modernization" by 2005, be the city equivalent of a moderately developed country by 2010 and then reach the level of a developed country by 2030. Zhang's counterpart in Xiamen, Hong Yongshi, vowed that his city's modernization will be measured by progress in economic growth, science and technology and social development. The city could conceivably be called modern by 2005, Hong said. In Zhuhai, officials promised to realize the city's modernization in 2007, while their colleagues in Shantou promised to build the city into a modern port city by 2008. Hainan Province has an ambitious plan to streamline its agriculture, marine economy and tourism while pushing urbanization. Analysts believe that by setting their goals for modernization, the nation's first four special economic zones are still leading other parts of the country in development as they did 20 years ago. Two decades ago, local authorities in Shenzhen, encouraged and supported by senior Chinese leaders including Deng Xiaoping, were determined to blaze a trail for China's reform and opening-up drive. Shenzhen has become a showcase for economic reform, along with Xiamen, Zhuhai and Shantou. To ensure success in the economic zones, Chinese authorities introduced a wide range of preferential policies. As the opening-up drive swept other parts of the country, the preferential policies were applied to more regions. Now, the saying is that special economic zones are no longer special. However, observers say that the special economic zones still shoulder a historical mission on August 28. In recent years, they have focused on improving the overall economic quality and on developing high-tech industries and other economies with special features. Compared with other parts of China, the economic zones still hold an edge in utilizing domestic and overseas resources and markets and in adapting themselves to internationally accepted practices to boost economic development. |
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