President stresses promoting high-standard opening-up

President Xi Jinping has called for State-level economic and technological development zones in China to continuously stimulate their innovation vitality and development momentum, and promote reform and high-quality growth with high-standard opening-up amid the nation's modernization drive.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction on the work of the State-level economic and technological development zones.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the country's establishment of the first group of economic and technological development zones. Xi highlighted that the construction of such zones is a significant measure for advancing the country's reform and opening-up.

Over the past four decades, the State-level zones have stayed committed to expanding opening-up, deepening reform and innovation, and positively contributing to the establishment of an open economy, regional coordinated development and high-quality industrial growth, he said.

Xi emphasized that on the new journey in the new era, the State-level economic and technological development zones need to lead the way in reform and opening-up, further improve the institutional mechanisms of high-standard opening-up, and actively engage in high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

He underlined the need to expand international cooperation, innovate investment promotion methods, and help build the "Invest in China" brand.

It is important to consolidate and enhance the foundation of the advanced manufacturing industry, promote industrial upgrading toward high-end, green and digital transformation, and develop new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions, Xi said.

A symposium marking the 40th anniversary of the construction of the State-level economic and technological development zones was held in Tianjin on Sunday. Vice-Premier He Lifeng conveyed Xi's instruction at the meeting.

Addressing the symposium, He said that it is essential to take stock of the new situation faced by the economic and technological development zones.

He called on the development zones to serve not only as testing grounds for institutional reform and innovation, but also as pioneers in advancing high-standard opening-up, demonstration areas for developing new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions, promoters of regional opening-up and coordinated development, and strong forces in bolstering economic transformation and upgrading.

China has 229 State-level economic and technological development zones, which are important platforms for attracting foreign investment, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

According to statistics from the ministry, in the first half of this year, these zones achieved an industrial output value of 15.2 trillion yuan ($2.1 trillion), with fiscal revenue reaching 1.3 trillion yuan and tax revenue hitting 1.2 trillion yuan. They also recorded a total import and export volume of 4.7 trillion yuan and used foreign direct investment amounting to $16.6 billion.