Wednesday, November 15, 2000, updated at 10:51(GMT+8)
President Jiang on Special Economic Zones
China will develop special economic
zones (SEZs) all through the process of
the country's reform, opening up and
modernization drive, Chinese President
Jiang Zemin said November 14 in
Shenzhen, China's first SEZ.
"The development of SEZs is an important
part of building socialism with Chinese
characteristics," Jiang said at a grand
gathering here to mark the 20th anniversary of the
founding of the Shenzhen SEZ, in Guangdong Province,
south China.
The Shenzhen SEZ was established at the creative
proposal of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping to
boost the country's reform, opening up and
modernization drive, and since then, it has played an
important role in the country's reform and
construction process.
Statistics indicate that over the past 20 years,
Shenzhen's GDP has grown at an annual rate of 31.2
percent. Last year, its gross domestic product
exceeded 143.65 billion yuan (US$17 billion), with
export hitting US$28.2 billion.
The successful development of Shenzhen and other SEZs
embodies the achievements China has made since the
reform and opening up policy was introduced in late
1970s. It also serves as strong evidence of the
advantages of the socialist system, Jiang said.
At the turn of the new century, China faces both
opportunities and challenges in its modernization
drive, Jiang said, calling on all Chinese people to
have a sense of urgency to seize the opportunities to
march towards the country's third strategic goal for
modernization.
Jiang also urged the SEZs to sum up experiences,
solve existing problems and speed up development to
continue to play a model role for other parts of the
country and to take the lead in realizing
modernization.
The gathering was attended by 4,000 people from
various circles, including Tung Chee Hwa, chief
executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region, and Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive the
Macao Special Administrative Region.
In another ceremony in downtown Shenzhen Tuesday
afternoon, Jiang unveiled a statue of Deng Xiaoping,
known as the chief architect of China's reform and
opening up drive.
****
Chinese President Concludes Cambodia Visit
President Jiang Zemin concluded his state visit to Cambodia, the second-leg
of his three-nation tour, and left Siemreap November 14 for Shenzhen in
South China's Guangdong province.
Jiang is flying to Shenzhen, a special economic zone (SEZ) adjacent to Hong
Kong, and attend a meeting there marking the 20th anniversary of the
founding of the SEZ.
Earlier in the day, accompanied by King Sihanouk, Jiang visited Angkor Vat,
a world-famous cultural relic known for its Buddhist temples and
sculptures.
When Jiang was leaving Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, early Tuesday
morning, Cambodian leaders, including Senate President Chea Sim, National
Assembly President Norodom Ranarith and Prime Minister Hun Sen, saw him and
the Chinese delegation off at the airport.
Jiang is scheduled to leave Shenzhen Tuesday evening for Brunei, where he
will attend the 8th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation informal summit and
pay a state visit to that country.
****
CMC Vice Chairman Meets Russian Guest
Zhang Wannian, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, met with
Valeri Manilov, first deputy chief of general staff of Russian armed forces
November 14 in Beijing.
Manilov is here attending the fourth round of meetings between the
headquarters of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and
the Russian armed forces.
Zhang said China and Russia are neighboring countries, and the maintenance
and development of Sino-Russian neighborly relations conforms to the
interests of the people of the two countries, and is beneficial to peace
and stability in the region and the world.
He noted that Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation has been
expanded with the joint efforts of the two sides.
He added that the meeting, by which the leaders of the two armed forces
discussed international and regional situations and the issues of common
concern, is an important component of Sino-Russian strategic cooperative
partnership, and demonstrates the further development of military relations
between the two countries as well.
Zhang said that such regular meeting promotes mutual trust and
understanding and helps strengthen cooperation in international affairs.
Manilov said that Russian-Chinese strategic cooperative partnership is
based on equality, mutual benefit and stable good neighborly relations, and
with the joint efforts of the leaders of the two countries, Russian-Chinese
relations have developed smoothly and the two armed forces have cooperated
well.
He voiced his belief that the visit will further the friendly cooperation
of the two armed forces and countries.
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