Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered important instructions regarding the work of national-level economic and technological development zones. He emphasized the need to lead in reform and opening up, further improve high-level foreign openness systems and mechanisms, actively participate in the high-quality co-construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative, expand international cooperation, innovate investment attraction methods, and contribute to building the “Invest in China” brand. He also highlighted the importance of consolidating and enhancing the basic industries of advanced manufacturing, promoting industrial upgrading towards high-end, green, and digital sectors, and developing new types of productivity suited to regional conditions.
The establishment of national-level economic development zones is an important measure for promoting reform and opening up in China. As of now, there are 229 national-level development zones across 31 provinces. Our team visited several of these zones, including those in Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, and Chongqing, to explore their vibrant practices in enhancing systems for high-level foreign openness, participating in the Belt and Road initiative, and developing new productivity according to local conditions.
**Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone: Further Enhancing High-Level Foreign Openness Systems**
The Carl Zeiss Group has significantly invested in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone (referred to as “Guangzhou Development Zone”) since establishing operations here. Their facility now accounts for over 40% of the company’s global production capacity. “Since settling in the Guangzhou Development Zone, we’ve continuously expanded our investment, with over 3 billion yuan invested here,” said Peng Wei, a representative of the group.
This growth reflects Guangzhou Development Zone’s commitment to deepening reforms and maintaining a high level of foreign openness. As one of the first national-level development zones, it has progressively improved its systems for high-level foreign engagement, facilitating numerous foreign investment projects.
Recently, the Fisher & Paykel medical device manufacturing project in the zone began operations, marking the company’s third global and first Asian production base. “Thanks to the excellent business environment in the Guangzhou Development Zone, our production base was completed and put into operation rapidly, enabling us to expand our business in China,” said a project representative.
With the implementation of over 700 reform measures, the organization of events like the “Global Investment Promotion Year,” and the establishment of themed working groups to streamline approvals, the Guangzhou Development Zone prioritizes optimizing the business environment as its leading reform initiative, cultivating a market-oriented, rule-of-law, and internationally-compliant business atmosphere, thereby bolstering the confidence of foreign enterprises in investment expansion.
The zone promotes international cooperation via major platforms like the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, deepening collaboration across various fields such as the digital economy and tech finance. In 2023, actual foreign investment in the Guangzhou Development Zone exceeded 3 billion USD, with over 90% from high-tech industries. To date, the zone hosts 5,251 foreign enterprises and 330 Fortune 500 company projects, with cumulative actual foreign investment reaching 39.7 billion USD.
“We remain committed to energizing innovation through profound reforms and driving high-quality development through high-level openness, thus solidifying foreign enterprise confidence in investment and expansion,” a representative from the Guangzhou Development Zone stated.
**Zhengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone: Actively Participating in High-Quality Belt and Road Co-construction**
On the morning of October 20, a train from Zhengzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone (referred to as “Zhengzhou Development Zone”) International Land Port departed, carrying goods including excavators and new LCD panels for export. The Pudian Station plays a key role in the China-Europe Railway Express (Zhengzhou), serving as a vital connection along the land Silk Road. Since its launch in 2013, the train service has exceeded 12,000 trips.
With the momentum of the Belt and Road initiative, many companies in Zhengzhou Development Zone are accelerating their growth. “Over 80% of our exports go to Belt and Road countries, with a cumulative total of more than 88,000 buses sold,” said Huang Zhenghua, head of the overseas brand management department at Yutong Bus. In recent years, the company has exported nearly 3,000 new energy buses to Belt and Road countries, becoming the largest supplier in several nations.
Within the Zhengzhou Development Zone, workers are conducting maintenance on large shield machines produced by China Railway Equipment. Deputy Chief Engineer Huo Lei noted that the company currently has over 1,700 shield machine orders, contributing to infrastructure projects in Belt and Road countries.
The Zhengzhou Development Zone is also making significant investments in logistics and infrastructure. On October 21, the construction site of the China-Europe Railway Express (Zhengzhou) Smart Logistics Hang-on Center was buzzing with activity. Nearby, the centers for multi-modal transport and the Belt and Road International Trade Industry Park are about to launch.
As the first national-level development zone in Henan Province, Zhengzhou Development Zone is actively promoting high-level openness, high-quality innovation, and advanced manufacturing. In 2023, it achieved a regional GDP of 132.84 billion yuan, representing an 8.2% growth rate, expanding its share of the city’s economy from 5% to 9.8%.
“We aim to develop a multi-modal transport system led by the China-Europe Railway Express (Zhengzhou), enhancing the logistics network to connect domestic and international markets, and establishing a hub that radiates East, Central, and West,” said Li Xiaohu, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Zhengzhou Development Zone.
**Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone: Enhancing the Basis of Advanced Manufacturing Industries**
As the human brain remains the most complex organ, researchers at the Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone (referred to as “Chongqing Development Zone”) are exploring innovative solutions. At the Chongqing Brain and Intelligent Science Center, a brain-controlled rehabilitation robot is assisting research into brain functions. “Our self-developed brain-controlled robot can create external neural pathways, compensating for damaged central nervous systems to support patient rehabilitation,” explained Zhang ZheyI, General Manager of Chongqing Yunbrain Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
The Chongqing Development Zone is deeply integrating innovation chains, industrial chains, funding chains, and talent chains to stimulate the innovative vigor of enterprises and build clusters of advanced manufacturing. “We continuously empower enterprises’ innovation, fostering three major pillar industries—intelligent terminals, software information, and healthcare—each worth over 100 billion yuan, along with two specialty industries, including energy-saving and automotive electronics,” a representative from the zone said.
At Chongqing Mengxun Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., a digital workshop is quiet, thanks to the production of 5G communication modules. The company has embraced digital transformation and smart upgrades, enhancing operational efficiency by 15% and reducing costs by 10% through proprietary industrial network technologies.
With cutting-edge technologies generating new productivity, enterprises are increasingly competitive in the market. The Chongqing Development Zone continues to deepen the digital transformation of manufacturing, launching smart factories and digital workshops en masse. In the first half of this year, industrial investment grew by nearly 111%, with seven national-level enterprise technology centers established and the proportion of “specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative” small and medium enterprises reaching 44.2%.
“Moving forward, we will focus on optimizing service and facilities within the zone, enhancing public service platforms, and forming a robust industrial cluster with strong support and high interconnectivity along the industrial chain,” said Li Min, the Director of the Economic Operation Bureau of Chongqing Development Zone.
