[photopress:zone_sez_haikou.jpg,full,alignright]China’s southernmost Hainan Province, the largest special economic zone (SEZ) in the country, celebrated its 20th anniversary in its capital city of Haikou.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (seen in our illustration) at the celebration ceremony said, ‘Setting up SEZs was an important measure of China’s reform and opening-up. The SEZs have played a pioneering role in prompting the reform.’
He asked the island province to build itself into a shipping hub, logistic center and export processing base for southeast Asia.
Founded 20 years ago, Hainan SEZ was a pioneer in experimenting with the market economy, developing the land with foreign investment, implementing a provincial insurance system, abolishing the agricultural tax and school fees for nine-year compulsory education.
The province also unveiled a blueprint aiming at building itself into a major international tourist destination by 2028.
Source: China View