Xi pledges to expand opening-up

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, greets children at a community center in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, during an inspection tour on Wednesday. JU PENG / XINHUA

Further reform highlighted during his inspection tour in Guangdong

While wrapping up his four-day inspection tour in Guangdong province on Thursday, President Xi Jinping reiterated China's determination to comprehensively deepen reforms and expand opening-up amid profound changes at home and abroad.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark after listening to work reports from the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the provincial government in Guangzhou. It was the last stop of a trip that also brought him to Zhuhai, Qingyuan and Shenzhen.

Xi said Guangdong is the pioneer, frontier and pilot zone of reform and opening-up, and the Party central committee has always encouraged the province to be bold in exploration and practice.

The past 40 years of development in Guangdong have fully demonstrated that reform and opening-up is the only way to practice socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as a key factor in realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the president said.

Reform and opening-up is faced with new conditions and challenges in the new era, Xi said, but the more complicated the environment, the more reason to continue with firm confidence and stronger measures.

He said construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a great opportunity to deepen Guangdong's reform and opening-up.

Xi urged more effort to build the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone according to high standards.

Visiting the Qianhai and Shekou areas of the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone in Shenzhen on Wednesday, Xi said greater miracles will be created by sticking to the right path of reform and opening-up.

Standing on reclaimed land in the once small fishing village, he said rapid development has demonstrated the feasibility of Qianhai and its experience should be replicated and promoted nationwide.

In 2010, the State Council approved the overall development plan for Qianhai in order to upgrade its industrial structure and further open up to the outside world.

Xi also urged continued efforts to improve the successful experience of special economic zones such as Shenzhen and Zhuhai.

Earlier, while meeting with participants in Guangdong's own reform and opening-up, the president said China's development and achievements over the 40 years since reform and opening-up began have impressed the world and there is no reason not to continue.

Even though there are difficulties and problems of various kinds, they should be solved and overcome during the process, he said.

He noted that the path of reform and opening-up should be followed with determination in a deeper and broader way.