Special Economic Zones

Special Economic Zones

Special economic zones were initiated by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This was a far-reaching decision by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to promote reform, opening up and socialist modernization.

In April 1979, on receiving the report by the leader of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee about building a processing zone for exports in Guangdong Province, Deng Xiaoping proposed a "special export zone" pilot. In July, the central authorities decided to grant more decision-making power to Guangdong and Fujian provinces regarding foreign economic activities, and allow them to adopt special and flexible policies and take the lead in building special export zones.

In May 1980, the name "special export zones" was changed to "special economic zones," and in August the central authorities decided to build special economic zones in Guangdong's Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou, and Fujian's Xiamen. In April 1988, Hainan Special Economic Zone was established, and in May 2010, Xinjiang's Khorgas and Kashi were added to the list.

Special economic zones practice special economic policies and management systems to develop an export-oriented economy. They are major channels for China to boost its own economy by utilizing overseas capital, technology, personnel and management expertise, and are windows to and models of China's reform and opening up, driving for socialist modernization.

兴办经济特区

经济特区诞生于20世纪70年代末80年代初。兴办经济特区，是中共中央、国务院根据邓小平的倡导，为推进改革开放和社会主义现代化建设进行的伟大创举。

1979年4月，邓小平在听取中共广东省委负责人关于兴办出口加工区的汇报时，建议试办“出口特区”。同年7月，中共中央、国务院决定对广东、福建两省的对外经济活动给予更多的自主权，批准两省实行“特殊政策、灵活措施、先行一步”，并试办出口特区。

1980年5月，中共中央、国务院将“出口特区”名称改为内涵更加丰富的“经济特区”。同年8月，批准在广东、福建两省的深圳、珠海、汕头、厦门设立经济特区，标志着中国经济特区的正式诞生。1988年4月，设立海南经济特区。2010年5月，批准霍尔果斯、喀什设立经济特区。

经济特区实行特殊的经济政策和经济管理体制，坚持以外向型经济为发展目标，是中国利用境外资金、技术、人才和管理经验来发展本国和本地经济的重要手段，在中国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设中发挥了重要窗口和示范带动作用。