Xi Returns to Shenzhen

Shenzhen is where China’s “economic miracle” started four decades ago. In 1980, Deng Xiaoping gave the sleepy fishing village which lies north of Hong Kong the status of “Special Economic Zone,” embracing market mechanisms and the process of integrating China into the world economy.  After the political turmoil and the events of Tiananmen Square in 1992, Deng returned to Shenzhen where he reaffirmed China’s commitment to “modernization… through reform and opening.”

In China, symbolism and slogans carry great weight, so the visit of President Xi Xinping to Shenzhen this week should be seen as highly significant. Xi has been repeatedly accused by critics both inside and outside of China of returning China increasingly towards the state-controlled dirigisme of the past, and his visit to Shenzhen aimed to reaffirm support for the private sector entrepreneurialism which has made Shenzhen into the world’s only rival to Silicon Valley.

In Shenzhen, Xi made comments aimed at bolstering confidence in China’s economic prospects. He paid tribute to Deng and vowed to continue China’s reform and opening up.

The road of “reform and opening up” was the “correct path” and China could create “bigger miracles” by sticking to it, Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

Xi added:

“I come to Shenzhen again … so that we can declare to the world: China’s reform and opening up will never stop.”

“We will continue down this path, unswervingly continue down the path of enriching the country and the people, and will break new ground.”

“This year marked the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. In the last 40 years, China’s development achievements have impressed the world…“So, since we are getting better and better, then why don’t we continue along the chosen path? Although we have some difficulties and problems, we have to solve and overcome them by going along the chosen road. We must firmly walk down the road of reform and opening up.”

 

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