Le Zheng, President of the Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences sees the special economic zone policies and Shenzhen's distinctive spirit itself that made the city such a splendid success.
"Each step of the reform met with difficulties, even criticism and censure. If the city didn't have an inner spiritual motivation, the reform would have stopped. I believe that Shenzhen has a special spirit- the spirit of innovation, and determination."
Animated with such spirit, Shenzhen was the first city to carry out the land-auction policy, to operate joint-stock banks, to recruit talents openly, and to practice human resource reforms never seen before in China. But Shenzhen can no longer only count on favorable policies, cheap labor, and laxest labor laws. Shenzhen now must fulfill new responsibilities to the people, but also to the environment for example. So although it loses some of the financial benefits from the special economic zones, Shenzhen now booms into a more human, civilized, and modern city.
Shenzhen surprised the world with its rapid exploration of the modern economic system. But entering into the new century, Shenzhen must keep in mind the new threats it faces and always prepare for the worst.
Economic restructuring has been launched nationwide; leading Shenzhen to enter what has been called the "post-special economic zone era". Zhong Jian, director of China's Special Economic Zones Research Center in Shenzhen University says, an important feature of the "post-special economic zone era" is that Shenzhen is not satisfied with the present situation, it needs a new niche.
"Shenzhen aims to become a metropolis. City development differs from economic development. Economic special zones only lead to economic development but the development of a city requires the all-around development of politics, economy, and culture."
Although years have gone by and the economic situation has changed a lot, Shenzhen's spirit remains the same. Shenzhen strives to remain innovative, in content and in form so as to enhance its economic position in China, and it has now become China's first innovative pilot city.
