On December 13 to 14, 2019, the 2019 World Special Economic Zone (Shenzhen) Forum was successfully held in Bao’an District, Shenzhen. The organizers were the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), Shenzhen University (SZU) and the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRII). And the theme of the forum was “From Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics”.
Prof. Tao Yitao, Director and Professor of CCSEZR and President of BRRI, presided over the opening ceremony of the forum. Also attending were Gao Shangquan, Former Deputy Director of the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System, Chen Yunlin, Former Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Director of the 11th Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the CPPCC National Committee, and Chairman of the 2nd Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, Li Youwei, Former Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Wang Jingsheng, State Council Counselor, General Tang Tianbiao, Former Deputy Director of the People's Liberation Army General Political Department, Zhao Xiaoyu, Former Vice President of China Development Bank and Asian Development Bank, Lu Shulin, Former Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Hu Qianwen, Former Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh and Cambodia, Wu Yihuan, Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Jin Xu, President of China Association of International Trade, Wang Jun, Director and Professor of the Committee for Economic Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Tang Jie, Professor of Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen) and former Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Xie Shouguang, President of the Social Science Academic Press (SSAP), Wu Dinghai, Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and President of Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences, Fan Zhigang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, SZU, Lou Yanfeng, Deputy Head of Bao’an District, Meir Yeskendirov, Rector of Shakarim University (SU), Semei, Kazakhstan, Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, Vice President of Digital Agriculture Association (DAA), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and other experts and leaders.
Among the keynote speakers were Gao Shangquan, Li Youwei, Wang Jingsheng, Zhao Xiaoyu, Tang Jie, Wang Jun, Tian Guoqiang, Director and Professor of the Institute for Advanced Research of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Professor Chen Hongyu, Counselor of the Guangdong Provincial Government, Cai Jiming, Director and Professor of the Center for Political Economy at Tsinghua University, Wu Sikang, Director of the Development Research Center of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Prof. Tao Yitao and Victoria Perskaya, Professor of Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.
Wu Yihuan, Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government
Deputy Mayor Wu Yihuan pointed out: “After 40 years of continuous efforts, the economy and society of Shenzhen have developed with improved quality in all fronts, which makes rewarding exploration into and outstanding contributions to the country’s reform, opening-up and socialist modernization. At present, as socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era, SEZs are tasked with a new historical mission to address new evolving challenges in the new situation. She believed that the collision of new ideas and thoughts at this forum will produce valuable experience of for SEZ development and inspire Shenzhen to build a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
Wu Dinghai, Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and President of Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences
President Wu Dinghai said: “Shenzhen is an important window to show the international community China's achievements in reform and opening-up. The World Special Economic Zone Development Forum is an important platform to promote academic innovation and it has become a key theoretical platform in Shenzhen with clout both in and outside of China in the field of SEZ research. This forum themed ‘From SEZ to Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics’ is of great significance and can help Shenzhen to lead a new era of mental emancipation with nonstop reform and opening-up, and fuel its evolution into a central city of culture across the world and a pioneering city of international cultural creativity.”
Fan Zhigang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, SZU
Fan Zhigang, Deputy Secretary, said: “SZU is committed to implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, strengthening the formulation of a work plan for developing a world-class university, carrying out the mission of pilot demonstration of higher education, focusing on enhancing its abilities in innovation, contribution and service, and striving to reach the standard of a high-level university in the SEZ. Since its inception, CCSEZR has devoted itself to the research of SEZs in the world, providing important intellectual support for national strategies and regional development in the field of SEZs. Especially in recent years, it has made important contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area strategy, and the establishment of the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
Lou Yanfeng, Deputy Head of Bao’an District
Lou Yanfeng indicated: “At the critical moment when we thoroughly learn and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and make every effort to promote the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the opening of this forum themed ‘From SEZ to Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics’ is a grand event in Bao’an District. It would definitely provide theoretical references for Bao’an District to build ‘the core of the Greater Bay Area, an intelligent innovation engine, and a shared homeland’.”
Prof. Tao Yitao, Director of CCSEZR and President of BRRI
Prof. Tao Yitao emphasized: “40 years ago, Shenzhen undertook the historical mission of shifting from a traditional planned economy to a market economy and exploring the path from widespread poverty to common prosperity. Today, at the historical milestone of deepening reforms, building China into an innovative country, implementing the Greater Bay Area plan, and building the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Shenzhen shoulders the mission of shifting from policy opening into institutional opening and form an export-led economy into an open economy. The most important thing is whether today’s Shenzhen can maintain the fearless spirit, courage and pioneering character of the past. And whether Shenzhen can fulfill such a mission is mainly up to ourselves and our perspectives. Perspectives cannot directly change the society, but can change people, who will eventually change the society. A profound self-revolution is required for Shenzhen to continue to blaze the trail, fulfill the mission of deepening reform, and become the pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
Meir Yeskendirov, Rector of Shakarim University (SU), Semei, Kazakhstan
Meir Yeskendirov pointed out: “Education and enlightenment will create a liberal economic model, which is the foundation of a free trade zone. Kazakhstan is a bridge between Asia and Europe. Let us work together to build the Silk Road for humanities, education and enlightenment. Humanistic philosophy, enlightenment philosophy and education philosophy are which we’ll turn to together.”
Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, Vice President of Digital Agriculture Association (DAA), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Nguyen Thi Lan Huong said: “Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, China has made remarkable achievements in economic development and urban construction. As an important window for China’s reform and opening-up, Shenzhen is an international and innovative city full of power, vitality, and innovation. From Shenzhen, we learned the experience of SEZ construction, as well as innovative awareness and scientific attitude.”
This forum was hosted under the guidance of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, the Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences and the People’s Government of Bao'an District, Shenzhen. The supporting media includes Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily Online, Chinese Social Sciences Today, Naifang Daily, Guangzhou Daily, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, Shenzhen Evening News, 21st Century Business Herald, Shenzhen Satellite TV, and Hong Kong Satellite TV. There were more than 200 attendees, including scholars from over 30 prominent universities(such as Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, and Peking University), think tanks, academic institutions , SEZs, and officials from the Consulate of Pakistan, Russia, Vietnam and other countries in Guangzhou, and people from dozens of Shenzhen local private enterprises.
In the one-day forum, the participating delegates conducted in-depth and enthusiastic discussions around the topics such as “Deepening Economic System Reform and Building High-quality Growth Engine”, “Agenda for Urban Civilization Construction and Sustainable Development”, “Theory and Practice of Belt and Road International Cooperation”, “Financial Innovation and Its Application”, and “International Cooperation Development and Joint Construction of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, and achieved fruitful results.
In the forum, a book launch of the [g1]Annual Report on the Development of China's Innovation and Entrepreneurship (2018-2019)[/g1], published by the Social Science Academic Press, was held and authoritative experts and scholars were invited to jointly discuss the current status and look towards the future of China's innovation and entrepreneurship development. Based on the research dynamics of innovation and entrepreneurship in and out of China, the [g1]Blue Book [/g1] establishes a comprehensive quantitative framework to evaluate the innovation environment and capabilities of major cities in China in all fronts, in a bid to provide practicable references for decision makers.
On December 13, 2019, some scholars, entrepreneurs, and foreign guests visited Qianhai Free Trade Zone and Tencent. The 2019 World Special Economic Zone (Shenzhen) Forum came to a successful conclusion.
The World Economic Special Zone Forum is an annual international academic conference fathered by CCSEZR, a key research base for humanities and social sciences under the Ministry of Education. Since 2000, it has been held in domestic and foreign cities for 20 consecutive years, and experts, scholars, officials, and entrepreneurs from more than 20 countries have attended the forum. It also received active involvement and response from the United Nations Development Program, the African Development Bank, the South-South Cooperation Agency, and the German GIZ. It has gained significant international clout, especially the widespread attention and high evaluation from developing countries. Now the forum has become a key academic platform for domestic and foreign scholars, officials and entrepreneurs to discuss frontier issues such as the path choices of SEZs, free trade zones, the institutional change for Chinese society and China’s path.
A scene of the forum
Attendees pose for a group photo
Attendees visit Qianhai Free Trade Zone
Attendees visit Tencent
