Raise Reform and Opening Up to a Higher Level

Raise Reform and Opening Up to a Higher Level*

October 14 and November 12, 2020

I

The current situation calls for new responsibilities and new actions. The special economic zones (SEZs) must uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics, implement the Five-sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy, apply the new development philosophy, promote high-quality growth, and foster the new development dynamic in the new development stage which China has entered. The SEZs must press ahead non-stop with reform and opening up at a higher level to achieve new progress, and must contribute more to delivering the Second Centenary Goal, that is, building China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the centenary of the People’s Republic of China in 2049.

Looking to Shenzhen for further reform and opening up and innovative development, the Party Central Committee issued guidelines last August on supporting Shenzhen in building a demonstration pilot zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics, with a comprehensive plan to achieve the goal. Shenzhen must succeed in building this pilot zone, thereby exemplifying what a model city in a strong and modern socialist country will be like. It should strengthen its capacity to implement the new development philosophy, create a new dynamic for deeper reform and broader opening up on all fronts, contribute to development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to enrich the practice of the One Country, Two Systems policy, and lead the country in achieving socialist modernization. All this is the historic mission assigned by the Party Central Committee to Shenzhen in the new era.

(from the speech at a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th
anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen
Special Economic Zone, October 14, 2020)

II

On the new journey forward, the role and mission of Pudong will be determined with reference to the overall plans for revitalizing the Chinese nation, and in the context of global change on a scale unseen in a century. It will also be weighed against the drive to create a double development dynamic with the domestic economy as the mainstay and the domestic economy and international engagement providing mutual reinforcement. We should accurately identify and wisely respond to changes, proactively seek opportunities, and seize the initiative in crises. 

The CPC Central Committee is formulating Guidelines on Making Pudong New Area a Pioneering Zone in Socialist Modernization Through High-Standard Reform and Opening Up, and will assign the area new major tasks for reform and opening up. Pudong should seize this opportunity to achieve robust development. Following the guiding principles of the 19th CPC National Congress and the second, third, fourth and fifth plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee, Pudong should implement the new development philosophy and create the new development dynamic based on a sound understanding of the new development stage. Guided by the underlying principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, Pudong is expected to take on the most arduous and difficult tasks. You should strive to become a pacesetter for higher-level reform and opening up, a forerunner of comprehensive socialist modernization, and a model to exemplify our confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, displaying more vividly China’s philosophy, values, and development path to the world.

(from the speech at a grand gathering to celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the development and opening up of
Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, November 12, 2020)

* Excerpts from two speeches made on October 14 and November 12, 2020.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)