Regarding the pattern and promotion of opening up, it can be simply sorted out like this:
Special Economic Zones - Coastal Open Cities - Coastal Economic Development Zones - Inland Areas
Pilot export special zones
Because of Guangdong's unique geographical conditions, the first wave of special export zones fell behind and settled in Guangdong. On January 23, 1979, Guangdong renamed Bao'an County as Shenzhen, and Zhuhai County as Zhuhai City; Guangdong's decision was approved by the state on March 5 of the same year.
Originally, Guangdong meant to set up an export processing zone on a pilot basis, but Deng Gong felt that Guangdong's geographical location was very good, so he simply directly established a special zone, which was also the first time that Deng Gong proposed the idea of setting up a special zone.
On July 15, 1979, in the "Two Reports on the Implementation of Special Policies and Flexible Measures for Foreign Economic Activities", it was decided to establish "special export zones" in Shenzhen and Zhuhai in Guangdong Province on a pilot basis. After accumulating experience, we will consider establishing special export zones in Shantou and Xiamen.
The birth of the Special Economic Zone
From March 24 to 30, 1980, a meeting of Guangdong and Fujian provinces was held in Guangzhou, at which the "Special Export Zone" was officially renamed as "Special Economic Zone".
On August 26 of the same year, the "Regulations on the Special Economic Zone of Guangdong Province" was officially approved and promulgated, which means the official birth of China's special economic zone. The next step is to start the construction of the four special economic zones that have been identified.
Shortly after the establishment of the SEZs, the state approved the areas of the four SEZs, as follows:
1. Shenzhen: 3275 square kilometers;
2. Zhuhai: 681 square kilometers;
3. Shantou: 681 square Gongliu;
4. Xiamen: 16 square kilometers.
Soon after, a set of 10 measures suited to the nature and development of the Special Administrative Region was formulated
1. The planning and construction of the SEZs should have their own development priorities and should be adapted to local conditions.
2. The customs shall have certain preferential tariffs for the goods and commodities imported into the special zone;
3. Simplify the relevant procedures for entry and exit;
4. A new system should be implemented for labor wages in the Special Economic Zone;
5. For the export commodities of the state required by the SEZ market, the SEZ shall place an order with the relevant foreign trade company and settle the goods in foreign exchange;
6. New financial and monetary programs should be implemented in the Special Economic Zone;
7. The relevant funds for the construction of the Special Economic Zone shall be taken care of accordingly after the application of the Special Economic Zone;
8. Airports, railways, telecommunications and other units in the Special Economic Zone are allowed to introduce foreign capital and be responsible for their own profits and losses;
9. Formulate corresponding special zone regulations;
10. There should be certain reforms and changes in the administrative and management system of the SEZs.
In the second half of 1980, Shenzhen and Zhuhai began construction; In the second half of 1981, the Shantou and Xiamen special economic zones also began to break ground.
Open up coastal cities and regions
In May 1984, 14 coastal cities including Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo and Fuzhou were further opened. In February 1985, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta were further opened, and at this time, it was still around the "coast".
Since the development of the coastal economic opening up special zones, economic ties with the hinterland have also been close, which has not only led to the opening up of the economy of some inland cities to the outside world, but also provided the hinterland with a window for foreign economic ties.