A Brief Introduction?of?National Economic and
Technological Development Zones in China
At the beginning of 1984, to further open to the outside world,
China government decided to establish economic and technological
development zones (Hereinafter referred to ETDZ) along seas by
using successful experiences of special economic zones in the
previous period.
From 1984 to 1988, 14 ETDZs including Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin,
Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Minhang, Hongqiao,
Caohejing, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang are the first that
had been established?after the approval of the State
Council.
In 1992 and 1993, eighteen other national ETDZs including
Yingkou, Changchun, Shenyang, Harbin, Weihai, Kunshan, Hangzhou,
Xiaoshan, Wenzhou, Rongqiao, Dongshan, Guangzhou Nansha, Huizhou
Dayawan, Wuhu, Wuhan, Chongqing, Beijing, Urumchi are the second to
be set up.
From 2000 to 2002, the State Council decided to build the third
group including Hefei, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Changsha, Chengdu,
Kunming, Gunyang, Nanchang, Shihezi, Xining, Huhhot, Taiyuan,
Nanning, Yinchuan, Lanzhou, Lasa, Lanzhou.
Besides, it also ratified Suzhou Industrial Park, Hainan Yangpu
ETDZ, Shanghai Jinqiao Export Processing Zone, Ningbo Daxie ETDZ
and Xiamen Haicang Investment Zone to enjoy the same preferential
policies with these?national?ETDZs.
The?state-level?ETDZ is a relatively small piece of
land carved up in the coastal cities and other open cities. It
attaches great importance to improving hard and soft investment
environment and adheres to the policy of "mainly developing the
high-tech industry, focusing on industrial projects, absorbing
foreign fund and building up export-oriented economy" to strive for
a fast and sound development. Serving as "Windows and bases" in the
fields of opening-up, capital attraction, export enlargement,
hi-tech development and regional economy promotion, it now becomes
a powerful engine in developing regional economy and plays an
important role in adjusting regional economy and industry
structure. As a matter of fact, The ETDZs have scored great
achievements and become the hot places of foreign investment and
main forces of export.
The ETDZs of coastal cities have achieved remarkable success. By
summarizing the experience of fast and sound development of
national development zones, as a major component of a strategy to
develop the western area, the State Council made a decision in 1999
that middle west provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities
directly under the central government could choose one qualified
and established provincial-level ETDZ from its capital city to bid
for a national ETDZ.
To date, there are 54 national-level ETDZ, among which, eastern
coastal regions 34, Middle West regions 21. The pattern of national
ETDZs in various provinces, cities, autonomous regions and other
open cities is quite reasonable especially the newly established
national ETDZs, which will play an active role in implementing the
strategy of developing the west strengthening the economic
cooperation between eastern and middle western regions and
promoting the coordinated growth of regional economy.
(Source: Ministry of Commerce)
