China's southernmost Hainan Province, the largest special economic zone (SEZ) in the country, celebrated its 20th anniversary in its capital city of Haikou on Saturday.
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The celebration ceremony in honor of the 20th anniversary of Hainan special economic zone is held in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, April 26, 2008. [Xinhua]
"Setting up SEZs was an important measure of China's reform and opening-up. The SEZs have played a pioneering role in prompting the reform," said Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang at the celebration ceremony.
Li asked the island province to build itself into a shipping hub, logistic center and export processing base for southeast Asia.
Founded on the same date 20 years ago, Hainan SEZ was a pioneer in experimenting with the market economy, developing the land with foreign investment, implementing a provincial insurance system, abolishing the agricultural tax and school fees for nine-year compulsory education.
The province also unveiled on Friday a blueprint aiming at building itself into a major international tourist destination by 2028.
The province will continue to implement its visa-free policies for tourists and open up aviation rights, introduce renowned overseas travel agencies and hotel management corporations, according to the action plan for the long-term goal of a first-class international tourist island.
With an area of 34,000 square kilometers, tropical and sub-tropical Hainan was established in 1988 as a province and approved as a special economic zone enjoying preferential development policies.
The other four SEZs are Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen, all in southern China.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2008)