Special economic zones

The special economic zones were the first locations in China to open to the outside world. Their dynamic economic exchanges with the rest of the world make them the best regions of China’s reform and opening up. Special economic zones were initiated by Deng Xiaoping, and established 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 the central leadership took up Deng Xiaoping’s suggestion and decided to designate certain areas in Guangdong and Fujian provinces as “special export zones” that would open first by exploiting their geographical locations near Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and their close ties with overseas Chinese. In May 1980 the name “special export zones” was changed to “special economic zones,” and in August the Standing Committee of the Fifth NPC 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 on and models of China’s reform and opening up.

設立經濟特區

經濟特區是中國最早對外開放的地區，是對外經濟交流最活躍的地區，也是最能代表改革開放形象的地區。經濟特區誕生于20世紀70年代末80年代初，是中共中央、國務院根據鄧小平的倡導，為推進改革開放和社會主義現代化建設做出的重大決策。

1979年4月，中共中央工作會議根據鄧小平提議，決定在深圳、珠海、汕頭和廈門等劃出一定地區，利用其毗鄰港澳臺、華僑眾多的優勢，在對外開放中“先走一步”，試辦“出口特區”。1980年5月，中共中央、國務院將“出口特區”名稱改為內涵更加豐富的“經濟特區”。1980年8月，第五屆全國人大常委會第15次會議決定，在廣東省的深圳、珠海、汕頭和福建省的廈門四市分別劃出一定區域，設置經濟特區，標志著中國經濟特區的正式誕生。1988年4月，設立海南經濟特區；2010年5月，批準霍爾果斯、喀什設立經濟特區。

經濟特區實行特殊的經濟政策和經濟管理體制，堅持以外向型經濟為發展目標，是中國利用境外資金、技術、人才和管理經驗來發展本國和本地經濟的重要手段，在中國改革開放中發揮了重要的窗口和示范作用。