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{{Short description|Economic development zones of China}}
{{Chinese|title=Special Economic Zones|t=經濟特區|s=经济特区|p=Jīngjì Tèqū|pic=PR China-SAR & SEZ-English.png|piccap=A map showing the locations of the Special Economic Zones|j=Ging<sup>1</sup>zai<sup>3</sup> Dak<sup>6</sup>keoi<sup>1</sup>|wuu=Jin<sup>平</sup> je<sup>入</sup> tah<sup>平</sup> chi<sup>平</sup>|poj=Keng-chè Te̍k-khu|order=st}}
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In justifying opening up and the series of economic reforms that ensued in [[China]], [[Deng Xiaoping]] referred to [[Karl Marx]] and his theories, which predicted that nations need to undergo urbanization and a stage of capitalism for a natural socialist transition. One of the most influential reforms under Deng was establishing four '''special economic zones''' (SEZ) along the Southeastern coast of China, with [[Shenzhen Special Economic Zone|Shenzhen]], [[Shantou Special Economic Zone|Shantou]], and [[Zhuhai Special Economic Zone|Zhuhai]] located in [[Guangdong Province|Guangdong province]] and [[Xiamen Special Economic Zone|Xiamen]] located in [[Fujian Province|Fujian province]]. The four aforementioned special economic zones were all established from 1980 to 1981. As of 2024, there have been 3 additional special economic zones. In 1988, [[Hainan]] became the fifth SEZ. In 1990, Pudong district in [[Shanghai]] became the sixth "SEZ". In 2009, [[Binhai]] district in [[Tianjin]] became the seventh SEZ. [[Special economic zone]]s in [[mainland China]] are granted more market-oriented economic policies and flexible governmental measures by the [[government of China]].


[[Special economic zone]]s ('''SEZs''') in [[mainland China]] are granted more [[free market]]-oriented economic policies and flexible governmental measures by the [[government of China]], compared to the [[planned economy]] elsewhere. This allows SEZs to utilize economic management which is more attractive to foreign and domestic businesses. In SEZs, "...foreign and domestic trade and investment are conducted without the authorization of the Chinese central government in Beijing" with "[[tax incentive|tax]] and business incentives to attract [[Economy of China#Foreign investment|foreign investment]] and technology".<ref name="britannica.com">{{cite web|title=Special economic zone (SEZ) - Chinese economics|url=http://www.britannica.com/topic/special-economic-zone|website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref>
This allows SEZs to utilize economic management which is more attractive to foreign and domestic businesses. In SEZs, "...foreign and domestic trade and investment are conducted without the authorization of the Chinese central government in Beijing" with "[[tax incentive|tax]] and business incentives to attract [[Economy of China#Foreign investment|foreign investment]] and technology".<ref name="britannica.com">{{cite web |title=Special economic zone (SEZ) - Chinese economics |url=http://www.britannica.com/topic/special-economic-zone |website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref> Trade was originally controlled by China's centralized government. However, these special zones are where market-driven capitalist policies are implemented to entice foreign investments in China. In 1986, China then added 14 additional cities to the list of special economic zones.


== History ==
== History ==
The concept of Special Economic Zone arose in the late 1950s in Ireland.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=55}} The Irish government established the [[Shannon Free Zone]] to encourage foreign investment through tax incentives.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=55}} Various Chinese leaders visited Shannon Free Zone, including [[Jiang Zemin]] (in 1980) and later [[Zhu Rongji]], [[Wen Jiabao]], and [[Xi Jinping]].<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=55}}
In the late 1970s, and especially at the [[3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China]] in December 1978, the Chinese government initiated its policy of [[Chinese economic reform|reform and opening up]]. As a response to the failure of Maoist economic policy that failed to produce economic growth which would allow China to be competitive against not only industrialized nations of the west but also rising regional powers: Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Worden|first=Robert L.|last2=Savada|first2=Andrea M.|last3=Dolan|first3=Ronald E.|date=1987-07-01|title=China: A Country Study|location=Fort Belvoir, VA|doi=10.21236/ada205396|doi-access=free}}</ref> Officials in [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] led by Provincial [[Party Secretary]] [[Xi Zhongxun]] seized the initiative, starting with an investment project in [[Shekou]] prepared by [[Yuan Geng]] on behalf of the [[Hong Kong]]-based [[China Merchants Group|China Merchants Steam Navigation Company]]. This project, initially a [[ship breaking]] facility, was approved by [[Li Xiannian]] on January 31, 1979. In April 1979, Xi Zhongxun and other Guangdong officials presented in [[Beijing]] a proposal to give broader flexibility to the coastal provinces of Guangdong and [[Fujian]] to attract [[Foreign direct investment|foreign investment]], with additional exemptions in four cities, namely [[Shenzhen Special Economic Zone|Shenzhen]] in the [[Pearl River Delta]] region, [[Zhuhai]] and [[Shantou]] in Guangdong and [[Xiamen]] (Amoy) in Fujian Province. For these, Chinese [[Paramount leader]] [[Deng Xiaoping]] coined the name "special zones"<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stoltenberg |first1=Clyde D. |title=China's Special Economic Zones: Their Development and Prospects |journal=Asian Survey |date=1984 |volume=24 |issue=6 |pages=637–654 |doi=10.2307/2644396 |issn=0004-4687|jstor=2644396 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Frank |title=China's New Special Economic Zone Evokes Memories Of Shenzhen |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2017/04/21/chinas-new-special-economic-zone-evokes-memories-of-shenzhen/ |date=21 Apr 2017|website=Forbes |accessdate=22 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref> with reference to the designation of another border region during the [[Chinese Civil War]]. The proposal was approved on July 15 and the four special zones were officially established on August 26, 1979.<ref>{{cite book|last=Vogel|first=Ezra F.|authorlink=Ezra F. Vogel|title=[[Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China]]|publisher=The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press|date=2011|page=398}}</ref>


In the late 1970s, and especially at the [[3rd plenary session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party]] in December 1978, the Chinese government initiated its policy of [[Chinese economic reform|reform and opening up]], as a response to the failure of Maoist economic policy to produce economic growth which would allow China to be competitive against not only industrialized nations of the west but also rising regional powers: Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Worden|first1=Robert L.|last2=Savada|first2=Andrea M.|last3=Dolan|first3=Ronald E.|date=1987-07-01|title=China: A Country Study|location=Fort Belvoir, VA|doi=10.21236/ada205396|doi-access=free}}</ref>
In 1984, China further opened 14 coastal cities to overseas investment: [[Dalian]], [[Qinhuangdao]], [[Tianjin]], [[Yantai]], [[Qingdao]], [[Lianyungang]], [[Nantong]], [[Shanghai]], [[Ningbo]], [[Wenzhou]], [[Fuzhou]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Zhanjiang]] and [[Beihai]]. Since 1988, mainland [[Opening of China|China's opening]] to the outside world has been extended to its border areas, areas along the [[Yangtze|Yangtze River]] and inland areas. First, the state decided to turn [[Hainan]] Island into mainland China's biggest special economic zone (approved by the 1st session of the 7th NPC in 1988) and to enlarge the other four special economic zones.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}


Officials in [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] led by Provincial [[Party Secretary]] [[Xi Zhongxun]] and [[Yang Shangkun|Yang Shankun]] sought to make Guangdong a national demonstration zone for Reform and Opening Up,<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Chatwin |first=Jonathan |title=The Southern Tour: Deng Xiaoping and the Fight for China's Future |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Academic]] |year=2024 |isbn=9781350435711}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=xvii-xviii}} starting with an investment project in [[Shekou]] prepared by [[Yuan Geng]] on behalf of the [[Hong Kong]]-based [[China Merchants Group|China Merchants Steam Navigation Company]]. This project, initially a [[ship breaking]] facility, was approved by [[Li Xiannian]] on January 31, 1979. In April 1979, Xi Zhongxun and other Guangdong officials presented in [[Beijing]] a proposal to give broader flexibility to the coastal provinces of Guangdong and [[Fujian]] to attract [[Foreign direct investment|foreign investment]], with additional exemptions in four cities, namely [[Shenzhen Special Economic Zone|Shenzhen]] in the [[Pearl River Delta]] region, [[Zhuhai]] and [[Shantou]] in Guangdong and [[Xiamen]]<ref name=":26">{{Cite book |last=Ang |first=Yuen Yuen |url= |title=How China Escaped the Poverty Trap |date=2016 |publisher=[[Cornell University Press]] |isbn=978-1-5017-0020-0 |doi= |jstor=10.7591/j.ctt1zgwm1j |author-link=Yuen Yuen Ang}}</ref>{{Rp|page=158}} (Amoy) in Fujian Province. For these, Chinese [[Paramount leader]] [[Deng Xiaoping]] coined the name "special zones"<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stoltenberg |first1=Clyde D. |title=China's Special Economic Zones: Their Development and Prospects |journal=Asian Survey |date=1984 |volume=24 |issue=6 |pages=637–654 |doi=10.2307/2644396 |issn=0004-4687|jstor=2644396 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Frank |title=China's New Special Economic Zone Evokes Memories Of Shenzhen |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2017/04/21/chinas-new-special-economic-zone-evokes-memories-of-shenzhen/ |date=21 Apr 2017|website=Forbes |access-date=22 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and characterized them as experiments in the mold of the pre-1949 Communist base areas.<ref name=":42">{{Cite book |last=Heilmann |first=Sebastian |url= |title=Red Swan: How Unorthodox Policy-Making Facilitated China's Rise |date=2018 |publisher=[[The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press]] |isbn=978-962-996-827-4 |author-link=Sebastian Heilmann}}</ref>{{Rp|page=65}} The proposal was approved on July 15 and the four special zones were officially established on August 26, 1979.<ref>{{cite book|last=Vogel|first=Ezra F.|author-link=Ezra F. Vogel|title=[[Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China]]|publisher=The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press|date=2011|page=398}}</ref> As part of an effort to overcome domestic political resistance, the name "special economic zone" was ultimately chosen over "special zone" to emphasize that only economic, not political, experiments should be carried out.<ref name=":622">{{Cite book |last=Lan |first=Xiaohuan |title=How China Works: An Introduction to China's State-led Economic Development |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |year=2024 |isbn=978-981-97-0079-0 |translator-last=Topp |translator-first=Gary |doi=10.1007/978-981-97-0080-6}}</ref>{{Rp|page=297}}
Shortly afterwards, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] expanded the open coastal areas, extending into an open coastal belt the open economic zones of the [[Yangtze River Delta]], [[Pearl River Delta]], Xiamen-[[Zhangzhou]]-[[Quanzhou]] Triangle in south Fujian, the [[Shandong Peninsula]], the [[Liaodong Peninsula]] (in [[Liaoning]] Province), [[Hebei]] Province and [[Guangxi]] autonomous region. In June 1990, the Chinese government opened the [[Pudong]] New Area in [[Shanghai]] to overseas investment, and additional cities along the Yangtze River valley, with Shanghai's Pudong New Area as its "dragon head."{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}


Within these SEZs, export-focused businesses had the leeway to quickly respond to demand in foreign markets.<ref name=":33">{{Cite book |last=Liu |first=Zongyuan Zoe |title=Sovereign Funds: How the Communist Party of China Finances its Global Ambitions |publisher=The Belknap Press of [[Harvard University Press]] |year=2023 |isbn=9780674271913 |pages= |doi=10.2307/jj.2915805 |jstor=jj.2915805|s2cid=259402050 }}</ref>{{Rp|page=50}} These initial SEZs successfully attracted foreign capital, primarily from ethnic Chinese in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.<ref name=":9223">{{Cite book |last=Šebeňa |first=Martin |title=Contemporary China: a New Superpower? |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-1-03-239508-1 |editor-last=Kironska |editor-first=Kristina |chapter=Chinese Economic Miracle |editor-last2=Turscanyi |editor-first2=Richard Q.}}</ref>{{Rp|page=90}} Foreign businesses in these areas were generally motivated to move production to China's SEZs because of lower labor costs, preferential economic policies, and the general trend of offshoring more simple manufacturing as globalization increased.<ref name=":9223" />{{Rp|page=90}}
Since 1992, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] has opened a number of [[Border city|border cities]], and in addition, opened all the capital cities of inland provinces and autonomous regions. In addition, 15 [[Free-trade zone|free trade zones]], 32 state-level economic and technological development zones, and 53 new and [[high-tech]] industrial development zones have been established in large and medium-sized cities. As these open areas adopt different preferential policies, they play the dual roles of "windows" in developing the [[Export-oriented economy|foreign-oriented economy]], generating foreign exchanges through exporting products and importing advanced technologies and of "radiators" in accelerating inland economic development.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}


Successes in the initial SEZs led to the establishment of additional SEZs in 14 coastal cities:<ref name=":33" />{{Rp|page=50}} [[Dalian]], [[Qinhuangdao]], [[Tianjin]], [[Yantai]], [[Qingdao]], [[Lianyungang]], [[Nantong]], [[Shanghai]], [[Ningbo]], [[Wenzhou]], [[Fuzhou]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Zhanjiang]] and [[Beihai]]. Since 1988, mainland [[Opening of China|China's opening]] to the outside world has been extended to its border areas, areas along the [[Yangtze|Yangtze River]] and inland areas.{{cn|date=November 2024}} First, the state decided to turn [[Hainan]] Island into mainland China's biggest special economic zone (approved by the 1st session of the 7th NPC in 1988) and to enlarge the other four special economic zones.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
Primarily geared to exporting processed goods, the five SEZs are [[International trade|foreign trade]]-oriented areas which integrate science, industry and innovation with trade. Foreign firms benefit from preferential policies such as [[Tax incentive|lower tax rates]], reduced regulations and special managerial systems. In 1999, Shenzhen's new-and high-tech industry reached an output value of high-tech products of 81.98 billion [[Yuan (currency)|yuan]], making up 40.5% of the city's total industrial output value.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}


Shortly afterwards, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] expanded the open coastal areas, extending into an open coastal belt the open economic zones of the [[Yangtze River Delta]], [[Pearl River Delta]], [[Xiamen]]-[[Zhangzhou]]-[[Quanzhou]] Triangle in south Fujian, the [[Shandong Peninsula]], the [[Liaodong Peninsula]] (in [[Liaoning]] Province), [[Hebei]] Province and [[Guangxi]] autonomous region. In June 1990, the Chinese government opened the [[Pudong]] New Area in [[Shanghai]] to overseas investment, and additional cities along the Yangtze River valley, with Shanghai's Pudong New Area as its "[[Chinese dragon|dragon]] head."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2020-10-06|title=Financialising urban redevelopment: Transforming Shanghai's waterfront|journal=Land Use Policy|language=en|pages=105126|doi=10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105126|issn=0264-8377|doi-access=free|last1=Chen |first1=Yawei |volume=112 }}</ref>
Since its founding in 1992, the Shanghai Pudong New Area has made progress in both absorbing foreign capital and accelerating the economic development of the Yangtze River valley. The government has extended special preferential policies to the Pudong New Area that are not currently enjoyed by the special economic zones. For instance, in addition to the preferential policies of reducing or eliminating [[Customs duties]] and [[income tax]] common to the economic and technological development zones, the state also permits the zone to allow foreign business people to open [[Financial institution|financial institutions]] and run [[Tertiary industry|tertiary industries]]. In addition, the state has given Shanghai permission to set up a [[stock exchange]], expand its examination and approval authority over investments and allow foreign-funded banks to engage in [[renminbi|RMB]] business. In 1999, the [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] of the Pudong New Area came to 80 billion yuan, and the total industrial output value, 145 billion yuan.{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}


Since 1992, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] has opened a number of [[Border city|border cities]] and, in addition, all the capital cities of inland provinces and autonomous regions. In addition, 15 [[Free-trade zone|free trade zones]], 32 state-level economic and technological development zones, and 53 new and [[high-tech]] industrial development zones have been established in large and medium-sized cities.{{cn|date=November 2024}} As these open areas adopt different preferential policies, they play the dual roles of "windows" in developing the [[Export-oriented economy|foreign-oriented economy]], generating foreign exchanges through exporting products and importing advanced technologies and of "radiators" in accelerating inland economic development.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
In May 2010, the PRC designated the city of [[Kashgar]] in [[Xinjiang]] a SEZ. Kashgar's annual growth rate was 17.4 percent in 2009, and Kashgar's designation has since increased [[Tourism in China|tourism]] and [[Real estate in China|real estate prices]] in the city. Kashgar is close to China's border with the independent states of former [[Soviet Central Asia]] and the SEZ seeks to capitalize on international trade links between China and those states.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/25/china-s-hottest-cities-and-kashgar.html|title=A New Shenzhen|author=Fish, Isaac Stone|date=2010-09-25|accessdate=2011-07-29|magazine=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref>


Most of China's SEZs are located in former [[treaty ports]] and therefore have symbolic significance in demonstrating a "reversal of fortunes" in China's dealings with foreigners since the [[century of humiliation]].<ref name=":33" />{{Rp|page=51}} Researcher Zongyuan Zoe Liu writes that "[t]he success of these cities as 'red' treaty ports represented another step in China's overall reform and opening-up plan while legitimizing the leadership of the CPC over the Chinese state and people."<ref name=":33" />{{Rp|page=51}}
== List of the SEZs and Open Coastal Cities ==
As part of its economic reforms and policy of opening to the world, between 1980 and 1984 China established [[special economic zone|special economic zones]] (SEZs) in [[Shantou]], [[Shenzhen]], and [[Zhuhai]] in [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] and [[Xiamen]] in [[Fujian|Fujian Province]] as well as designating the entire island province of [[Hainan]] as a special economic zone.


Primarily geared to exporting processed goods, the five SEZs are [[International trade|foreign trade]]-oriented areas which integrate science, industry and innovation with trade. Foreign firms benefit from preferential policies, such as [[Tax incentive|lower tax rates]], reduced regulations and special managerial systems.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
In 1984, China opened 14 other coastal cities to overseas investment (listed from north to south): [[Dalian]], [[Qinhuangdao]], [[Tianjin]], [[Yantai]], [[Qingdao]], [[Lianyungang]], [[Nantong]], [[Shanghai]], [[Ningbo]], [[Wenzhou]], [[Fuzhou]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Zhanjiang]], and [[Beihai]]. These coastal cities have been designated as the "Open Coastal Cities" ({{zh|s=沿海开放城市|t=沿海開放城市|p=Yánhǎi Kāifàng Chéngshì}}).

Since its founding in 1992, the Shanghai Pudong New Area has made progress in both absorbing foreign capital and accelerating the economic development of the Yangtze River valley. The government has extended special preferential policies to the Pudong New Area that are not currently enjoyed by the special economic zones. For instance, in addition to the preferential policies of reducing or eliminating [[Customs duties]] and [[income tax]] common to the economic and technological development zones, the state also permits the zone to allow foreign business people to open [[financial institution]]s and run [[Tertiary industry|tertiary industries]]. In addition, the state has given Shanghai permission to set up a [[stock exchange]], expand its examination and approval authority over investments and allow foreign-funded banks to engage in [[renminbi|RMB]] business. In 1999, the [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] of the Pudong New Area came to 80 billion yuan, and the total industrial output value, 145 billion yuan.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

In May 2010, the PRC designated the city of [[Kashgar]] in [[Xinjiang]] a SEZ. Kashgar's annual growth rate was 17.4 percent in 2009, and Kashgar's designation has since increased [[Tourism in China|tourism]] and [[Real estate in China|real estate prices]] in the city. Kashgar is close to China's border with the independent states of former [[Soviet Central Asia]] and the SEZ seeks to capitalize on international trade links between China and those states.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/25/china-s-hottest-cities-and-kashgar.html|title=A New Shenzhen|author=Fish, Isaac Stone|date=2010-09-25|access-date=2011-07-29|magazine=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref>

In 2015, then-magistrate of [[Kinmen County]] (ROC) [[Chen Fu-hai]], along with a non-profit Taiwan organization "with close ties to the CCP",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-china/china-turns-firepower-to-soft-power-to-try-to-win-tiny-taiwan-held-island-idUSKCN0S12L320151007|title=China turns firepower to soft power to try to win tiny Taiwan-held island|last1=Lee|first1=Yimou|last2=Hung|first2=Faith|date=October 8, 2015|website=Reuters|access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606034556/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-china/china-turns-firepower-to-soft-power-to-try-to-win-tiny-taiwan-held-island-idUSKCN0S12L320151007|archive-date=June 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> proposed a referendum in which Kinmen would become a special economic zone and obtain free trade and free investment between it and neighboring SEZ Xiamen on the mainland. The plan received controversy due to PRC investment in the ROC being otherwise strictly controlled; it was praised by a Xiamen government official and PRC state media, but the referendum did not{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} receive approval from the government of Taiwan before Chen's term ended in 2018.

== List of the SEZs and open coastal cities ==
As part of its economic reforms and policy of opening to the world, between 1978 and 1984 China established [[special economic zone]]s (SEZs) in [[Shantou]], [[Shenzhen]], and [[Zhuhai]] in [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] and [[Xiamen]] in [[Fujian|Fujian Province]] as well as designating the entire island province of [[Hainan]] as a special economic zone.<ref>{{Cite web|title=China in Brief - china.org.cn|url=http://www.china.org.cn/e-china/openingup/sez.htm|access-date=2020-12-02|website=www.china.org.cn}}</ref>

In 1984, China opened 14 other coastal cities to overseas investment (listed from north to south): [[Dalian]], [[Qinhuangdao]], [[Tianjin]], [[Yantai]], [[Qingdao]], [[Lianyungang]], [[Nantong]], [[Shanghai]], [[Ningbo]], [[Wenzhou]], [[Fuzhou]], [[Guangzhou]], [[Zhanjiang]], and [[Beihai]]. These coastal cities have been designated as the "open coastal cities" ({{zh|s=沿海开放城市|t=沿海開放城市|p=yánhǎi kāifàng chéngshì}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Special economic zone {{!}} Chinese economics|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/special-economic-zone|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Verde|first=Giacomo|date=2020-10-26|title=Learn All About Special Economic Zones In China|url=https://www.fdichina.com/blog/special-economic-zones-china/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=FDI China|language=en-US}}</ref>


Then, beginning in 1985, the central government expanded the coastal area by establishing the following open economic zones (listed from north to south): the [[Liaodong Peninsula]], [[Hebei|Hebei Province]] (which surrounds [[Beijing]] and [[Tianjin]]; see [[Jing-Jin-Ji]]), the [[Shandong Peninsula]], [[Yangtze Delta|Yangtze River Delta]], [[Xiamen]]-[[Zhangzhou]]-[[Quanzhou]] Triangle in southern [[Fujian|Fujian Province]], the [[Pearl River Delta]], and [[Guangxi|Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region]].
Then, beginning in 1985, the central government expanded the coastal area by establishing the following open economic zones (listed from north to south): the [[Liaodong Peninsula]], [[Hebei|Hebei Province]] (which surrounds [[Beijing]] and [[Tianjin]]; see [[Jing-Jin-Ji]]), the [[Shandong Peninsula]], [[Yangtze Delta|Yangtze River Delta]], [[Xiamen]]-[[Zhangzhou]]-[[Quanzhou]] Triangle in southern [[Fujian|Fujian Province]], the [[Pearl River Delta]], and [[Guangxi|Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region]].


In 1990, the Chinese government decided to open the [[Pudong|Pudong New Area]] in [[Shanghai]] to overseas investment, as well as more cities in the Yang Zi River Valley.
In 1990, the Chinese government decided to open the [[Pudong|Pudong New Area]] in [[Shanghai]] to overseas investment, as well as more cities in the Yang Zi River Valley.{{cn|date=November 2024}}


Since 1992, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] has opened a number of border cities and all the capital cities of inland provinces and autonomous regions.
Since 1992, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] has opened a number of border cities and all the capital cities of inland provinces and autonomous regions.{{cn|date=November 2024}}


In addition, 15 free-trade zones, 32 state-level economic and technological development zones, and 53 new and high-tech industrial development zones have been established in large and medium-sized cities. As a result, a multilevel diversified pattern of opening and integrating coastal areas with river, border, and inland areas has been formed in China.
In addition 15 free-trade zones, 32 state-level economic and technological development zones, and 53 new and high-tech industrial development zones have been established in large and medium-sized cities. As a result, a multilevel diversified pattern of opening and integrating coastal areas with river, border, and inland areas has been formed in China.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=Magazine|date=2020-11-01|title=China and the history of its Special Economic Zones|url=https://www.globalvillagespace.com/history-of-special-economic-zones-in-china/|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Global Village Space|language=en-US}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 37: Line 52:
! [[Provinces of China|Province]]
! [[Provinces of China|Province]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | Special Economic Zone – Province
| style="text-align: center;" | Special economic zone – Province
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | –
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Hainan]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Hainan]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="5" style="text-align: center;" | Special Economic Zone – City
| rowspan="5" style="text-align: center;" | Special economic zone – City
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Xiamen]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Xiamen]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Fujian]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Fujian]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Shantou]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Shantou]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangdong]]
| rowspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangdong]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Shenzhen]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Shenzhen]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangdong]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Zhuhai]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Zhuhai]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangdong]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Kashgar]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Kashgar]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Xinjiang]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Xinjiang]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="14" style="text-align: center;" | Open Coastal City
| rowspan="14" style="text-align: center;" | Open coastal city
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Shanghai]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[Shanghai]]
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Tianjin]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[Tianjin]]
| style="text-align: center;" | –
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Fuzhou]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Fuzhou]]
Line 68: Line 79:
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangzhou]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangzhou]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangdong]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangdong]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Zhanjiang]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Zhanjiang]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Guangdong]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Beihai]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Beihai]]
Line 80: Line 90:
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Lianyungang]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Lianyungang]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Jiangsu]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[Jiangsu]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Nantong]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Nantong]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Jiangsu]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Dalian]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Dalian]]
Line 89: Line 98:
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Qingdao]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Qingdao]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Shandong]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[Shandong]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Yantai]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Yantai]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Shandong]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Ningbo]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Ningbo]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Zhejiang]]
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[Zhejiang]]
|-
|-
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Wenzhou]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Wenzhou]]
| style="text-align: center;" | [[Zhejiang]]
|}
|}


Line 104: Line 111:


== Economic policies of the SEZs ==
== Economic policies of the SEZs ==
[[Economic policy|Economic policies]] of [[Special economic zone|SEZs]] included [[Taxation in China|tax]] exemptions, reduced [[Customs|custom duties]], reduced priced land, and increased flexibility to negotiate [[Labour Contract Law of the People's Republic of China|labor contracts]] and financial contracts.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Jin |first=Keyu |title=The New China Playbook: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism |date=2023 |publisher=Viking |isbn=978-1-9848-7828-1 |location=New York |author-link=Keyu Jin}}</ref>{{Rp|page=37}} SEZs were also authorized to develop their own [[legislation]].<ref name=":42" />{{Rp|page=84}} The [[Shenzhen]] [[Special economic zone|Special Economic Zone]] was the most active SEZ for legislative experiments over the period 1979-1990 and these had a significant role in shaping national economic legislation on [[International trade|foreign trade]] and [[investment]].<ref name=":42" />{{Rp|page=84}}
{{References needed|section|date=March 2017}}

== Shenzhen's economic transformation ==
Out of the special zones, perhaps the most successful was [[Shenzhen]]. It transformed from 126 square miles of [[Village|villages]] into a [[business]] [[metropolis]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ding |first=Xuejie |date=2001 |title=Shenzhen Yearbook 2001 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Growth-of-Shenzhen-1980-1990_tbl4_280921866}}</ref> As seen by the table below, the ten years of economic reform from 1980 to 1990 increased [[population]] in Shenzhen by six-fold, [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] by around sixty-fold, and gross industrial output by two-hundredfold. Before 1980, Shenzhen's GDP was just 0.2 percent of [[Hong Kong|Hong Kong's]]. In 2018, the city's GDP hit 2.42 trillion [[Yuan (currency)|yuan]] (US$372 billion), overtaking Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-16 |title=Why China's tech megacity is at risk of being a high-income trap |url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3125540/chinas-tech-megacity-shenzhen-risk-being-high-income-trap-gdp |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Successes in Shenzhen prompted Chinese central authorities to instruct provincial officials to learn from Shenzhen.<ref name=":132" />{{Rp|page=114}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Population (thousands people)
!GDP (million yuan)
!Gross industrial output (million yuan)
|-
|1980
|332.9
|270
|99
|-
|1982
|449.5
|826
|424
|-
|1985
|881.5
|3902
|3119
|-
|1990
|2019.4
|17,167
|20,912
|}

== Overseas SEZs ==
From 1990 to 2018, Chinese enterprises established eleven SEZs in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East including: Nigeria (two), Zambia, Djibouti, Kenya, Mauritius, Mauritania, Egypt, Oman, and Algeria.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Murphy |first=Dawn C. |url= |title=China's Rise in the Global South: the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's Alternative World Order |date=2022 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-1-5036-3060-4 |location=Stanford, California |pages= |oclc=1249712936}}</ref>{{Rp|page=177}} Generally, the Chinese government takes a hands-off approach, leaving it to Chinese enterprises to work to establish such zones (although it does provide support in the form of grants, loans, and subsidies, including support via the [[China-Africa Development Fund|China Africa Development Fund]]).<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=177}} Such zones fall within the Chinese policy to [[Go Out policy|go out]] and compete globally.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=182}} The [[Forum on China–Africa Cooperation|Forum on China-Africa Cooperation]] promotes these SEZs heavily.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|pages=177–182}}

In southeast Asia, both [[State-owned enterprises of China|state-owned]] and private Chinese companies are active in developing SEZs abroad consistent with the Chinese government's strategic priorities.<ref name=":Han">{{Cite book |last=Han |first=Enze |title=The Ripple Effect: China's Complex Presence in Southeast Asia |date=2024 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-769659-0 |location=New York, NY}}</ref>{{Rp|page=55}} Efforts in these SEZs are often viewed as part of the [[Belt and Road Initiative]].<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=55}} China is involved in southeast Asia SEZs that include industrial parks, special export processing zones, technology parks, and innovation areas.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=55}} From the Chinese government perspective, Chinese participation in overseas SEZs helps to increase demand for Chinese machinery and equipment and helps restructure the domestic Chinese industrial value chain by moving low-end production activity abroad.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=55}} It can also help bypass trade barriers during periods of friction such as the [[US-China trade war|U.S.-China trade war]] by facilitating exports to Europe and North America.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=55}}

The Chinese government has identified certain southeast Asian SEZs as highlighted destinations for Chinese investment.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=55}} These highlighted overseas SEZs include: Kawasan Industri Terpadu Indonesia-China, [[Sihanoukville (city)|Sihanoukville]] Special Economic Zone in Cambodia, Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park (RIP), Longjiang Industrial Park in Vietnam, Vientiane Saysettha Development Zone in Laos, and Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|pages=55-56}}

The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone began with a focus on manufacturing consumer goods with the goal of transitioning to producing machinery, photovoltaic materials, and chemicals.<ref name=":Curtis&Klaus">{{Cite book |last1=Curtis |first1=Simon |title=The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization, and China's Search for a New International Order |last2=Klaus |first2=Ian |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=9780300266900 |location=New Haven and London |publication-date=2024 |doi=10.2307/jj.11589102 |jstor=jj.11589102}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=132-133}} It received support from China's [[Ministry of Commerce (China)|Ministry of Commerce]] and the [[Export–Import Bank of China|Export-Import Bank of China]].<ref name=":Curtis&Klaus" />{{Rp|page=132}} As of March 2020, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone had 174 factories employing more than 30,000 people.<ref name=":Curtis&Klaus" />{{Rp|page=133}}

The RIP is China's largest industrial cluster and manufacturing export area in Thailand.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=56}} As of late 2018, the RIP has more than 120 Chinese--owned companies, employs 35,000 (largely Thai nationals), and its gross industrial output was $12 billion.<ref name=":Han" />{{Rp|page=56}}

The first Chinese overseas SEZs facilitated the offshoring of labor-intensive and less competitive industries, for example in textiles.<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=177}} As Professor Dawn C. Murphy summarizes, these zones now "aim to transfer China's development successes to other countries, increase business opportunities for China manufacturing companies, avoid trade barriers by setting up zones in countries with preferential trade access to important markets, and create a positive business environment for Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises investing in these regions."<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=177}} Overseas SEZs also foster support for China in the international system and help advocate for developing country causes through [[South–South cooperation]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=182}} They "help China demonstrate it is acting as a responsible great power in these regions."<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|page=182}}

== Effectiveness and legacy ==
Deng described China's SEZs as "social and economic laboratories where foreign technologies and managerial skills could be observed", including in the development of manufacturing technology, a private real estate market, and management techniques.<ref name=":132">{{Cite book |last=Simpson |first=Tim |title=Betting on Macau: Casino Capitalism and China's Consumer Revolution |date=2023 |publisher=[[University of Minnesota Press]] |isbn=978-1-5179-0031-1 |series=Globalization and Community series |location=Minneapolis}}</ref>{{Rp|page=113}}

Many scholars argue that SEZs played a decisive role in the development of China and the success of Communism as implemented in China. Since their inception, SEZs have contributed 22% of China's GDP, 45% of total national foreign direct investment, and 60% of exports. SEZs are estimated to have created over 30 million jobs, increased the income of participating farmers by 30%, and accelerated industrialization, agricultural modernization, and urbanization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=China's Special Economic Zones |url=https://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/Worldbank/Event/Africa/Investing%20in%20Africa%20Forum/2015/investing-in-africa-forum-chinas-special-economic-zone.pdf}}</ref>

However, issues like prioritizing the short-term gains, encompassing a limited number of industries, and lack of entrepreneurial promotion are pointed out by critics of the SEZs. Others, like Gopalakrishnan, point out that "Left out of the picture are inequities in development, arable land loss, real estate speculation and labour violence", as well as significant transparency problems in bureaucracy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gopalakrishnan |first=Shankar |date=2007 |title=Negative Aspects of Special Economic Zones in China |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4419511 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=42 |issue=17 |pages=1492–1494 |jstor=4419511 |issn=0012-9976}}</ref>


China has benefitted from SEZs through foreign enterprises bringing in expertise, technology, and equipment.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=37}} In turn, private firms have benefitted from inexpensive labor, a business-friendly environment, robust infrastructure, and China's large domestic market.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=|pages=37–38}}
#Special [[tax incentive|tax incentives]] for foreign investments in the SEZs.
#Greater independence from the central government on international trade activities.
#Economic characteristics are represented as "4 principles":
##Construction primarily relies on attracting and utilizing foreign [[capital (economics)|capital]]
##Primary economic forms are Sino-foreign [[joint venture|joint ventures]] and partnerships as well as wholly foreign-owned enterprises
##Products are primarily [[export-oriented industrialization|export-oriented]]
##Economic activities are primarily driven by [[market (economics)|market forces]]


SEZs became destinations for workers from across southern and southwest China, particularly younger women who could earn significantly more for factory work than they could earn in their hometowns.<ref name=":322">{{Cite book |last=Hammond |first=Ken |title=China's Revolution and the Quest for a Socialist Future |publisher=1804 Books |year=2023 |isbn=9781736850084 |location=New York, NY |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=66}}
SEZs are listed separately in the national planning (including financial planning) and have province-level authority on economic administration. SEZs local congress and government have authority to [[legislation|legislate]].


A 2022 study in the ''[[American Economic Journal]]'' found that SEZs in China led to increased [[human capital]] investment with improved educational outcomes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lu |first1=Fangwen |last2=Sun |first2=Weizeng |last3=Wu |first3=Jianfeng |date=2022 |title=Special Economic Zones and Human Capital Investment: 30 Years of Evidence from China |url=https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.20200492&from=f |journal=American Economic Journal: Economic Policy |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=35–64 |language=en |doi=10.1257/pol |s2cid=236623774 |issn=1945-7731}}</ref>
Leong (2012) investigates the role of special economic zones (SEZs) in [[Economic liberalization|liberalizing]] the [[Economy of China|Chinese]] and [[Economy of India|Indian]] economies and their impact on [[economic growth]]. The policy change to a more liberalized economy is identified using SEZ variables as instrumental variables. The results indicate that export and [[Foreign direct investment|FDI]] growth have positive and [[Statistical significance|statistically significant]] effects on economic growth in these countries. The presence of SEZs increases regional growth but increasing the number of SEZs has negligible effect on growth. The key to faster economic growth appears to be a greater pace of liberalization.


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 123: Line 174:
* [[New areas]]
* [[New areas]]
* [[Special administrative regions of China]]
* [[Special administrative regions of China]]
*[[Northeast Area Revitalization Plan]]


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
Line 128: Line 180:


== References ==
== References ==
* Chee Kian Leong, 2007, A Tale of Two Countries: Openness and Growth in China and India [http://www.degit.ifw-kiel.de/papers/degit_12/C012_042.pdf], Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade (DEGIT) Conference Paper.
* Chee Kian Leong, 2007, A Tale of Two Countries: Openness and Growth in China and India [http://www.degit.ifw-kiel.de/papers/degit_12/C012_042.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719043701/http://www.degit.ifw-kiel.de/papers/degit_12/C012_042.pdf |date=2011-07-19 }}, Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade (DEGIT) Conference Paper.
* Chee Kian Leong, (forthcoming), Special economic zones and growth in China and India: an empirical investigation,[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10368-012-0223-6] International Economics and Economic Policy.
* Chee Kian Leong, (forthcoming), Special economic zones and growth in China and India: an empirical investigation,[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10368-012-0223-6] International Economics and Economic Policy.


Line 134: Line 186:
*Chung-Tong Wu. [http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/50/5000240.pdf China's special economic zones: five years later] – Asian Journal of Public Administration
*Chung-Tong Wu. [http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/50/5000240.pdf China's special economic zones: five years later] – Asian Journal of Public Administration
*[http://www.indiatogether.org/2007/feb/opi-sezschina.htm Special Economic Zones: Lessons from China by Bhaskar Goswami]
*[http://www.indiatogether.org/2007/feb/opi-sezschina.htm Special Economic Zones: Lessons from China by Bhaskar Goswami]
*[http://www.rwlawyers.com/info/viewinfo1.asp?contid=622 Coordination of tax legislation of special zones in Mainland China]
*[http://www.mainlandchinadevelopment.com/ Support service to enter development Zones to Mainland China]
*[http://www.mainlandchinadevelopment.com/ Support service to enter development Zones to Mainland China]



Latest revision as of 08:18, 24 December 2024

In justifying opening up and the series of economic reforms that ensued in China, Deng Xiaoping referred to Karl Marx and his theories, which predicted that nations need to undergo urbanization and a stage of capitalism for a natural socialist transition. One of the most influential reforms under Deng was establishing four special economic zones (SEZ) along the Southeastern coast of China, with Shenzhen, Shantou, and Zhuhai located in Guangdong province and Xiamen located in Fujian province. The four aforementioned special economic zones were all established from 1980 to 1981. As of 2024, there have been 3 additional special economic zones. In 1988, Hainan became the fifth SEZ. In 1990, Pudong district in Shanghai became the sixth "SEZ". In 2009, Binhai district in Tianjin became the seventh SEZ. Special economic zones in mainland China are granted more market-oriented economic policies and flexible governmental measures by the government of China.

This allows SEZs to utilize economic management which is more attractive to foreign and domestic businesses. In SEZs, "...foreign and domestic trade and investment are conducted without the authorization of the Chinese central government in Beijing" with "tax and business incentives to attract foreign investment and technology".[1] Trade was originally controlled by China's centralized government. However, these special zones are where market-driven capitalist policies are implemented to entice foreign investments in China. In 1986, China then added 14 additional cities to the list of special economic zones.

History

[edit]

The concept of Special Economic Zone arose in the late 1950s in Ireland.[2]: 55  The Irish government established the Shannon Free Zone to encourage foreign investment through tax incentives.[2]: 55  Various Chinese leaders visited Shannon Free Zone, including Jiang Zemin (in 1980) and later Zhu Rongji, Wen Jiabao, and Xi Jinping.[2]: 55 

In the late 1970s, and especially at the 3rd plenary session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in December 1978, the Chinese government initiated its policy of reform and opening up, as a response to the failure of Maoist economic policy to produce economic growth which would allow China to be competitive against not only industrialized nations of the west but also rising regional powers: Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.[3]

Officials in Guangdong Province led by Provincial Party Secretary Xi Zhongxun and Yang Shankun sought to make Guangdong a national demonstration zone for Reform and Opening Up,[2]: xvii–xviii  starting with an investment project in Shekou prepared by Yuan Geng on behalf of the Hong Kong-based China Merchants Steam Navigation Company. This project, initially a ship breaking facility, was approved by Li Xiannian on January 31, 1979. In April 1979, Xi Zhongxun and other Guangdong officials presented in Beijing a proposal to give broader flexibility to the coastal provinces of Guangdong and Fujian to attract foreign investment, with additional exemptions in four cities, namely Shenzhen in the Pearl River Delta region, Zhuhai and Shantou in Guangdong and Xiamen[4]: 158  (Amoy) in Fujian Province. For these, Chinese Paramount leader Deng Xiaoping coined the name "special zones"[5][6] and characterized them as experiments in the mold of the pre-1949 Communist base areas.[7]: 65  The proposal was approved on July 15 and the four special zones were officially established on August 26, 1979.[8] As part of an effort to overcome domestic political resistance, the name "special economic zone" was ultimately chosen over "special zone" to emphasize that only economic, not political, experiments should be carried out.[9]: 297 

Within these SEZs, export-focused businesses had the leeway to quickly respond to demand in foreign markets.[10]: 50  These initial SEZs successfully attracted foreign capital, primarily from ethnic Chinese in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.[11]: 90  Foreign businesses in these areas were generally motivated to move production to China's SEZs because of lower labor costs, preferential economic policies, and the general trend of offshoring more simple manufacturing as globalization increased.[11]: 90 

Successes in the initial SEZs led to the establishment of additional SEZs in 14 coastal cities:[10]: 50  Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang and Beihai. Since 1988, mainland China's opening to the outside world has been extended to its border areas, areas along the Yangtze River and inland areas.[citation needed] First, the state decided to turn Hainan Island into mainland China's biggest special economic zone (approved by the 1st session of the 7th NPC in 1988) and to enlarge the other four special economic zones.[citation needed]

Shortly afterwards, the State Council expanded the open coastal areas, extending into an open coastal belt the open economic zones of the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou Triangle in south Fujian, the Shandong Peninsula, the Liaodong Peninsula (in Liaoning Province), Hebei Province and Guangxi autonomous region. In June 1990, the Chinese government opened the Pudong New Area in Shanghai to overseas investment, and additional cities along the Yangtze River valley, with Shanghai's Pudong New Area as its "dragon head."[12]

Since 1992, the State Council has opened a number of border cities and, in addition, all the capital cities of inland provinces and autonomous regions. In addition, 15 free trade zones, 32 state-level economic and technological development zones, and 53 new and high-tech industrial development zones have been established in large and medium-sized cities.[citation needed] As these open areas adopt different preferential policies, they play the dual roles of "windows" in developing the foreign-oriented economy, generating foreign exchanges through exporting products and importing advanced technologies and of "radiators" in accelerating inland economic development.[citation needed]

Most of China's SEZs are located in former treaty ports and therefore have symbolic significance in demonstrating a "reversal of fortunes" in China's dealings with foreigners since the century of humiliation.[10]: 51  Researcher Zongyuan Zoe Liu writes that "[t]he success of these cities as 'red' treaty ports represented another step in China's overall reform and opening-up plan while legitimizing the leadership of the CPC over the Chinese state and people."[10]: 51 

Primarily geared to exporting processed goods, the five SEZs are foreign trade-oriented areas which integrate science, industry and innovation with trade. Foreign firms benefit from preferential policies, such as lower tax rates, reduced regulations and special managerial systems.[citation needed]

Since its founding in 1992, the Shanghai Pudong New Area has made progress in both absorbing foreign capital and accelerating the economic development of the Yangtze River valley. The government has extended special preferential policies to the Pudong New Area that are not currently enjoyed by the special economic zones. For instance, in addition to the preferential policies of reducing or eliminating Customs duties and income tax common to the economic and technological development zones, the state also permits the zone to allow foreign business people to open financial institutions and run tertiary industries. In addition, the state has given Shanghai permission to set up a stock exchange, expand its examination and approval authority over investments and allow foreign-funded banks to engage in RMB business. In 1999, the GDP of the Pudong New Area came to 80 billion yuan, and the total industrial output value, 145 billion yuan.[citation needed]

In May 2010, the PRC designated the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang a SEZ. Kashgar's annual growth rate was 17.4 percent in 2009, and Kashgar's designation has since increased tourism and real estate prices in the city. Kashgar is close to China's border with the independent states of former Soviet Central Asia and the SEZ seeks to capitalize on international trade links between China and those states.[13]

In 2015, then-magistrate of Kinmen County (ROC) Chen Fu-hai, along with a non-profit Taiwan organization "with close ties to the CCP",[14] proposed a referendum in which Kinmen would become a special economic zone and obtain free trade and free investment between it and neighboring SEZ Xiamen on the mainland. The plan received controversy due to PRC investment in the ROC being otherwise strictly controlled; it was praised by a Xiamen government official and PRC state media, but the referendum did not[citation needed] receive approval from the government of Taiwan before Chen's term ended in 2018.

List of the SEZs and open coastal cities

[edit]

As part of its economic reforms and policy of opening to the world, between 1978 and 1984 China established special economic zones (SEZs) in Shantou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai in Guangdong Province and Xiamen in Fujian Province as well as designating the entire island province of Hainan as a special economic zone.[15]

In 1984, China opened 14 other coastal cities to overseas investment (listed from north to south): Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Beihai. These coastal cities have been designated as the "open coastal cities" (simplified Chinese: 沿海开放城市; traditional Chinese: 沿海開放城市; pinyin: yánhǎi kāifàng chéngshì).[16][17]

Then, beginning in 1985, the central government expanded the coastal area by establishing the following open economic zones (listed from north to south): the Liaodong Peninsula, Hebei Province (which surrounds Beijing and Tianjin; see Jing-Jin-Ji), the Shandong Peninsula, Yangtze River Delta, Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou Triangle in southern Fujian Province, the Pearl River Delta, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

In 1990, the Chinese government decided to open the Pudong New Area in Shanghai to overseas investment, as well as more cities in the Yang Zi River Valley.[citation needed]

Since 1992, the State Council has opened a number of border cities and all the capital cities of inland provinces and autonomous regions.[citation needed]

In addition 15 free-trade zones, 32 state-level economic and technological development zones, and 53 new and high-tech industrial development zones have been established in large and medium-sized cities. As a result, a multilevel diversified pattern of opening and integrating coastal areas with river, border, and inland areas has been formed in China.[18]

Type City Province
Special economic zone – Province Hainan
Special economic zone – City Xiamen Fujian
Shantou Guangdong
Shenzhen
Zhuhai
Kashgar Xinjiang
Open coastal city Shanghai
Tianjin
Fuzhou Fujian
Guangzhou Guangdong
Zhanjiang
Beihai Guangxi
Qinhuangdao Hebei
Lianyungang Jiangsu
Nantong
Dalian Liaoning
Qingdao Shandong
Yantai
Ningbo Zhejiang
Wenzhou

Economic policies of the SEZs

[edit]

Economic policies of SEZs included tax exemptions, reduced custom duties, reduced priced land, and increased flexibility to negotiate labor contracts and financial contracts.[19]: 37  SEZs were also authorized to develop their own legislation.[7]: 84  The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was the most active SEZ for legislative experiments over the period 1979-1990 and these had a significant role in shaping national economic legislation on foreign trade and investment.[7]: 84 

Shenzhen's economic transformation

[edit]

Out of the special zones, perhaps the most successful was Shenzhen. It transformed from 126 square miles of villages into a business metropolis.[20] As seen by the table below, the ten years of economic reform from 1980 to 1990 increased population in Shenzhen by six-fold, GDP by around sixty-fold, and gross industrial output by two-hundredfold. Before 1980, Shenzhen's GDP was just 0.2 percent of Hong Kong's. In 2018, the city's GDP hit 2.42 trillion yuan (US$372 billion), overtaking Hong Kong.[21] Successes in Shenzhen prompted Chinese central authorities to instruct provincial officials to learn from Shenzhen.[22]: 114 

Year Population (thousands people) GDP (million yuan) Gross industrial output (million yuan)
1980 332.9 270 99
1982 449.5 826 424
1985 881.5 3902 3119
1990 2019.4 17,167 20,912

Overseas SEZs

[edit]

From 1990 to 2018, Chinese enterprises established eleven SEZs in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East including: Nigeria (two), Zambia, Djibouti, Kenya, Mauritius, Mauritania, Egypt, Oman, and Algeria.[23]: 177  Generally, the Chinese government takes a hands-off approach, leaving it to Chinese enterprises to work to establish such zones (although it does provide support in the form of grants, loans, and subsidies, including support via the China Africa Development Fund).[23]: 177  Such zones fall within the Chinese policy to go out and compete globally.[23]: 182  The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation promotes these SEZs heavily.[23]: 177–182 

In southeast Asia, both state-owned and private Chinese companies are active in developing SEZs abroad consistent with the Chinese government's strategic priorities.[24]: 55  Efforts in these SEZs are often viewed as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.[24]: 55  China is involved in southeast Asia SEZs that include industrial parks, special export processing zones, technology parks, and innovation areas.[24]: 55  From the Chinese government perspective, Chinese participation in overseas SEZs helps to increase demand for Chinese machinery and equipment and helps restructure the domestic Chinese industrial value chain by moving low-end production activity abroad.[24]: 55  It can also help bypass trade barriers during periods of friction such as the U.S.-China trade war by facilitating exports to Europe and North America.[24]: 55 

The Chinese government has identified certain southeast Asian SEZs as highlighted destinations for Chinese investment.[24]: 55  These highlighted overseas SEZs include: Kawasan Industri Terpadu Indonesia-China, Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone in Cambodia, Thailand-China Rayong Industrial Park (RIP), Longjiang Industrial Park in Vietnam, Vientiane Saysettha Development Zone in Laos, and Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park.[24]: 55–56 

The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone began with a focus on manufacturing consumer goods with the goal of transitioning to producing machinery, photovoltaic materials, and chemicals.[25]: 132–133  It received support from China's Ministry of Commerce and the Export-Import Bank of China.[25]: 132  As of March 2020, the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone had 174 factories employing more than 30,000 people.[25]: 133 

The RIP is China's largest industrial cluster and manufacturing export area in Thailand.[24]: 56  As of late 2018, the RIP has more than 120 Chinese--owned companies, employs 35,000 (largely Thai nationals), and its gross industrial output was $12 billion.[24]: 56 

The first Chinese overseas SEZs facilitated the offshoring of labor-intensive and less competitive industries, for example in textiles.[23]: 177  As Professor Dawn C. Murphy summarizes, these zones now "aim to transfer China's development successes to other countries, increase business opportunities for China manufacturing companies, avoid trade barriers by setting up zones in countries with preferential trade access to important markets, and create a positive business environment for Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises investing in these regions."[23]: 177  Overseas SEZs also foster support for China in the international system and help advocate for developing country causes through South–South cooperation.[23]: 182  They "help China demonstrate it is acting as a responsible great power in these regions."[23]: 182 

Effectiveness and legacy

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Deng described China's SEZs as "social and economic laboratories where foreign technologies and managerial skills could be observed", including in the development of manufacturing technology, a private real estate market, and management techniques.[22]: 113 

Many scholars argue that SEZs played a decisive role in the development of China and the success of Communism as implemented in China. Since their inception, SEZs have contributed 22% of China's GDP, 45% of total national foreign direct investment, and 60% of exports. SEZs are estimated to have created over 30 million jobs, increased the income of participating farmers by 30%, and accelerated industrialization, agricultural modernization, and urbanization.[26]

However, issues like prioritizing the short-term gains, encompassing a limited number of industries, and lack of entrepreneurial promotion are pointed out by critics of the SEZs. Others, like Gopalakrishnan, point out that "Left out of the picture are inequities in development, arable land loss, real estate speculation and labour violence", as well as significant transparency problems in bureaucracy.[27]

China has benefitted from SEZs through foreign enterprises bringing in expertise, technology, and equipment.[19]: 37  In turn, private firms have benefitted from inexpensive labor, a business-friendly environment, robust infrastructure, and China's large domestic market.[19]: 37–38 

SEZs became destinations for workers from across southern and southwest China, particularly younger women who could earn significantly more for factory work than they could earn in their hometowns.[28]: 66 

A 2022 study in the American Economic Journal found that SEZs in China led to increased human capital investment with improved educational outcomes.[29]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Special economic zone (SEZ) - Chinese economics". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  2. ^ a b c d Chatwin, Jonathan (2024). The Southern Tour: Deng Xiaoping and the Fight for China's Future. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781350435711.
  3. ^ Worden, Robert L.; Savada, Andrea M.; Dolan, Ronald E. (1987-07-01). China: A Country Study. Fort Belvoir, VA. doi:10.21236/ada205396.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Ang, Yuen Yuen (2016). How China Escaped the Poverty Trap. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-0020-0. JSTOR 10.7591/j.ctt1zgwm1j.
  5. ^ Stoltenberg, Clyde D. (1984). "China's Special Economic Zones: Their Development and Prospects". Asian Survey. 24 (6): 637–654. doi:10.2307/2644396. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 2644396.
  6. ^ Holmes, Frank (21 Apr 2017). "China's New Special Economic Zone Evokes Memories Of Shenzhen". Forbes. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  7. ^ a b c Heilmann, Sebastian (2018). Red Swan: How Unorthodox Policy-Making Facilitated China's Rise. The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press. ISBN 978-962-996-827-4.
  8. ^ Vogel, Ezra F. (2011). Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. p. 398.
  9. ^ Lan, Xiaohuan (2024). How China Works: An Introduction to China's State-led Economic Development. Translated by Topp, Gary. Palgrave Macmillan. doi:10.1007/978-981-97-0080-6. ISBN 978-981-97-0079-0.
  10. ^ a b c d Liu, Zongyuan Zoe (2023). Sovereign Funds: How the Communist Party of China Finances its Global Ambitions. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. doi:10.2307/jj.2915805. ISBN 9780674271913. JSTOR jj.2915805. S2CID 259402050.
  11. ^ a b Šebeňa, Martin (2023). "Chinese Economic Miracle". In Kironska, Kristina; Turscanyi, Richard Q. (eds.). Contemporary China: a New Superpower?. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-03-239508-1.
  12. ^ Chen, Yawei (2020-10-06). "Financialising urban redevelopment: Transforming Shanghai's waterfront". Land Use Policy. 112: 105126. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105126. ISSN 0264-8377.
  13. ^ Fish, Isaac Stone (2010-09-25). "A New Shenzhen". Newsweek. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  14. ^ Lee, Yimou; Hung, Faith (October 8, 2015). "China turns firepower to soft power to try to win tiny Taiwan-held island". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  15. ^ "China in Brief - china.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  16. ^ "Special economic zone | Chinese economics". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  17. ^ Verde, Giacomo (2020-10-26). "Learn All About Special Economic Zones In China". FDI China. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  18. ^ Desk, Magazine (2020-11-01). "China and the history of its Special Economic Zones". Global Village Space. Retrieved 2020-12-02. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ a b c Jin, Keyu (2023). The New China Playbook: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism. New York: Viking. ISBN 978-1-9848-7828-1.
  20. ^ Ding, Xuejie (2001). "Shenzhen Yearbook 2001".
  21. ^ "Why China's tech megacity is at risk of being a high-income trap". South China Morning Post. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  22. ^ a b Simpson, Tim (2023). Betting on Macau: Casino Capitalism and China's Consumer Revolution. Globalization and Community series. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-1-5179-0031-1.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h Murphy, Dawn C. (2022). China's Rise in the Global South: the Middle East, Africa, and Beijing's Alternative World Order. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-1-5036-3060-4. OCLC 1249712936.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i Han, Enze (2024). The Ripple Effect: China's Complex Presence in Southeast Asia. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-769659-0.
  25. ^ a b c Curtis, Simon; Klaus, Ian (2024). The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization, and China's Search for a New International Order. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. doi:10.2307/jj.11589102. ISBN 9780300266900. JSTOR jj.11589102.
  26. ^ "China's Special Economic Zones" (PDF).
  27. ^ Gopalakrishnan, Shankar (2007). "Negative Aspects of Special Economic Zones in China". Economic and Political Weekly. 42 (17): 1492–1494. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4419511.
  28. ^ Hammond, Ken (2023). China's Revolution and the Quest for a Socialist Future. New York, NY: 1804 Books. ISBN 9781736850084.
  29. ^ Lu, Fangwen; Sun, Weizeng; Wu, Jianfeng (2022). "Special Economic Zones and Human Capital Investment: 30 Years of Evidence from China". American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. 15 (3): 35–64. doi:10.1257/pol. ISSN 1945-7731. S2CID 236623774.

References

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  • Chee Kian Leong, 2007, A Tale of Two Countries: Openness and Growth in China and India [1] Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine, Dynamics, Economic Growth, and International Trade (DEGIT) Conference Paper.
  • Chee Kian Leong, (forthcoming), Special economic zones and growth in China and India: an empirical investigation,[2] International Economics and Economic Policy.
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