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    Guangdong: Reform Opens New Space

    Written by: People's Daily
    Posted on: June 28, 2018 | | 中文

    Skycrapers, a common sight in Guangdong

    Guangdong, the frontier of the Reform and Opening Policy of China, has become “the window through which modern Chinese people look at the world.” Through this window, people witnessed huge changes that the policy brought to Guangdong and China. The word that was most frequently mentioned during our interview is “open,” which is also the coordinate that Guangdong set for herself in the new era.

    Unique Advantages formed by Opening

    As the gate of China that opens to the outside world, Guangdong has many experiences of being “No.1.” In the first three seasons of 2017, the import and export volume of Guangdong reached 4,930 billion yuan, rising 11% and ranking No.1 in China. Moreover, Guangdong attracted 16.96 billion U.S. dollars of foreign investment, taking 18.4 % of China’s total and ranking No.1 in China.

    “The advantage, as well as the function of Guangdong, is its opening to the outside world. The development of Guangdong also relies on its opening,” says Chi Fulin, President of China Institute for Reform and Development. The location advantage of Guangdong determines the strategic function of the province.

    Organizing Qianhai international talents service center, consolidating basic-level Party building, pushing out action projects of scientific innovation; in November 2017, Qianhai, Shenzhen passed a series of reform proposals. “To make progress every year,” is the construction target of Shekou, Qianhai of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone. A new urban area rises from bare ground, because Shekou dares to take the lead. The old building site has now become a major free trade zone.

    A view of Shenzhen Qianhai Shkou Section of Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone

    A view of Shenzhen Qianhai Shkou Section of Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone

    “We adopt policies that are more special than those of special economic zones, policies of being a pilot, and special laws and taxation. We are the true ‘zone of the zones’,” says Wang Jinxia, Associate Director of Shekou Administrative Committee, “Ever since the Pilot Free Trade Zone put up its plate, more than 308 achievements of system innovation have been made, and Qianhai has become a major experiment zone of system innovation.”

    There are two more pilot zones in Guangdong. JD.com, Tmall, VIP.com and Suning Cloud Business, all of which are well-known brands that can easily be encountered if one walks in Nansha New District of Guangzhou. Here, thanks to the standardized automatic customs declaration and paperless smart clearance of cross-border e-commerce, more than 95% of the cross-border goods can be cleared in seconds. The average clearance time for each good has been cut down to 105 seconds, which makes it much more convenient for global purchase and global sale.

    There is only one river lying between Hengqin New District, which is on the west bank of the Pearl River, and Macau. After the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is constructed and put into operation, Hengqin becomes the only national new district of mainland that is directly linked to the bridge. The district insists on deepening the overall cooperation with Macau, and pushes forward the construction of the Hengqin-Macau common destiny.

    Active Participation in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Cooperation

    In the end of 2017 as an enterprise representative, Zhou Yunxian, the CEO of Hengqin Bringbuys visited Sao Paulo, Brazil, for a nine-day negotiation and exchange activity. During that time, he introduced Bringbuys’ concept of “C2B” to Brazilian enterprises

    An entrepreneur of Macau, who in his early 30s, started a business less than 6 months ago, but has already gotten an angel investment of 30 million HKD. The number of his team members expanded from a dozen to 116.

    “The policy advantages of Hengqin-Macau Innovalley cannot be found elsewhere,” says Zhou. Innovalley provides young businessmen of Macau with many preferential policies.

    Innovalley of Hengqin New District, which covers an area of 120,000 square meters and Macau, are on each side of a river. Now the implementation of many supporting policies, including the policy of allowing single-plate vehicle of Macau to visit Hengqin, and different taxation standards for Hong Kong and Macau people who work in Hengqin, has brought enormous convenience to those young Hong Kong and Macau people who set up businesses in Innovalley.

    From now on, by putting emphasis on the construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Great Bay Area, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau cooperation, and Pan-Pearl River Delta regional cooperation, Guangdong will comprehensively push forward the mutually beneficial cooperation between mainland China and Hong Kong, Macau. Now, Guangdong is building an international first-class bay area and world-class city group, by encouraging the interflow of people, goods, capitals, and information.

    Expand Opening-up and Promote Innovation

    Kuang-Chi “Martin,” the first commercial utility jet pack of the world, Kuang-Chi “Cloud,” the airborne platform that can perform communication, optical remote sensing, IoT (Internet of Things) detection, and big data collection and analysis, Kuang-Chi “solarship,” the green transportation platform - all these “black technologies” are developed by Shenzhen Kuang-Chi Institute of Higher Science and Technology.

    So far, the patents applied for by Kuang-Chi in the field of metamaterials, take up 86% of the world’s total, making the company ahead of its league. “The talents of Kuang-Chi come from all over the world, so do its innovations,” says Yang Jing, the Brand Director of Kuang-Chi. Now the company has set up branches in 21 countries and regions.

    In the second general assembly plant of GAC Group vehicle manufacture, smart robots are working in order and windshields are installed automatically. Here, it only takes more than 60 seconds to produce a vehicle.

    On Dec. 4, 2017, Guangdong issued new policies that allow foreign investments in more fields, put emphasis on attracting high-end foreign investments and talents, and expand the opening-up in such fields as manufacture, service, and finance. More talent and technology will gather here in the future.

    Translated by Zhu Siyu


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021