August 26, 2024, marks the 44th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. This former agricultural town has developed into an innovative global metropolis, achieving more than 1,000 national milestones, and its GDP has soared from 270 million yuan in 1980 to 3.46 trillion yuan in 2023. Shenzhen is a beacon of reform, led by innovation, and a national model.
Overlooking Shenzhen Lianhua Mountain and Shenzhen Civic Center, surrounded by tall buildings and lush vegetation. Nanfang Daily
Innovation fuels Shenzhen's high-quality development
On the first anniversary of the "Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone," three international innovation institutions focused on life sciences, AI, and more were unveiled, reinforcing the zone's position as a world-class technology hub. Today, Shenzhen is hailed as "China's Silicon Valley," housing over two million tech talents, which is a stark contrast to its early days with just a tractor mechanic and a veterinarian.
The city's industrial cluster strategy, upgraded in March 2024, targets strategic emerging industries with an added value exceeding 1.6 trillion yuan by 2025. The goal is to create trillion-yuan and multi-hundred-billion-yuan clusters. From high-definition displays to AI, Shenzhen's innovation chain seamlessly aligns with industrial chains, with strategic emerging industries contributing 1.4489 trillion yuan to GDP in 2023, or 41.9%.
Deeply rooted in innovation, Shenzhen boasts a "six 90%" phenomenon, where enterprises dominate research, R&D funding, patents, and investment. With 742 national-level specialized SMEs and over 24,700 high-tech enterprises, Shenzhen has fostered a robust ecosystem for technological advancement.
Major scientific and technological infrastructure projects like the National Comprehensive Science Center, Shenzhen Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Zone are progressing rapidly as Shenzhen accelerates the cultivation of new productive forces. As talents, policies, platforms, and carriers converge, a globally influential industrial technology innovation center is emerging in Shenzhen, fueling its growth with unprecedented momentum.
Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone. Nanfang Daily
Shenzhen pioneers China's modernization
Since August 18, 2019, Shenzhen has embarked on a new mission as a socialist demonstration area. Over the past five years, Shenzhen has embraced innovation, reforms, and openness, achieving numerous "firsts" and "pioneering achievements."
As a reform leader, Shenzhen has initiated over 1,000 reforms, with 87 "Shenzhen Experiences" nationally promoted in recent years. It has remained China's top exporter for 31 years and expanded its global trade network to over 200 countries. As an entrepreneurship hub, Shenzhen boasts more than 3,800 innovation platforms, 24,700 high-tech enterprises, and a talent pool of 6.79 million, topping national PCT patent applications for two decades.
As a city governed by law, Shenzhen has optimized its business environment, earning the title "Dream Capital" with 4.29 million business entities. Culturally, it has hosted events like the Forum on Building up China's Cultural Strength and the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), fostering a rich artistic spirit. Environmentally, Shenzhen has transformed from two parks to 1,290 by 2023, with 3,406 km of greenways, enhancing livability.
Shenzhen's landmark buildings from different periods record the history of the construction and development of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Nan Fang Daily
In healthcare, education, and housing, Shenzhen has made strides, with 159 hospitals, 926 community health centers, and 2,940 schools educating 2.74 million students by 2023. It is remarkable that Shenzhen has transformed from a remote town to an international metropolis in 44 years.
Now, with renewed vigor, Shenzhen continues to lead China's modernization, daringly creating new "Tales of Spring" and astonishing the world with its achievements.
Author | Alice
Editor | Monica, James
