Editor’s Note: On Aug. 18, 2019, China unveiled a plan for implementing reforms in Shenzhen to transform the city into a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics. To celebrate this endeavor, we are presenting a series of stories that highlight the city’s progress in achieving this ambitious goal. Zhang Yu JeniZhang13@163.com SHENZHEN, once a modest fishing village, has rapidly transformed into a global powerhouse, drawing the attention of world leaders and dignitaries alike. With its dynamic economy and innovative spirit, the city has become a symbol of Chinese modernization and a model for urban development. Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif noted the uniqueness of Shenzhen during a speech he gave at the Pakistan China Business Conference, which was held in Shenzhen, the first stop of his visit to China, on June 5 this year. “Shenzhen’s modernization offers Pakistan lessons to copy and emulate. A few decades ago, Shenzhen was a small fishing village, but today it has created a GDP of around US$500 billion,” said the prime minister. Sharif further noted, “The Shenzhen speed is a remarkable achievement. Going back to Pakistan, it’s enough for us to learn from.” He is not the only foreign dignitary to express admiration for Shenzhen’s accomplishments and a desire to emulate its development model during their visits. This sentiment underscores the widely accepted view that Shenzhen is a quintessential vantage point for observing China’s path towards modernization. The city has taken great strides and instituted a number of innovative measures to transform itself into a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Essential stop for China visit In recent years, Shenzhen has frequently featured on the itineraries of foreign delegations visiting China, with many heads of state and government leaders specifically selecting Shenzhen as a crucial stop. Statistics show that this year, Shenzhen has welcomed foreign heads of state and government leaders from countries such as Uzbekistan, the Federated States of Micronesia, Suriname, Tunisia, Pakistan, Peru, and Vanuatu. It has also welcomed 225 groups of approximately 3,000 foreign guests, including about 1,300 from delegations at the vice-ministerial level and above. Shenzhen has always been the pacesetter in China’s reform and opening up. Its experience and successful strategies have emerged as a “frame of reference” for many nations in their planning processes. In September 2023, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro paid a state visit to China and chose Shenzhen as his first stop. During an interview with Shenzhen media, Maduro revealed that the main purpose of his visit to Shenzhen was to learn about and draw on the successful experience of Shenzhen as a special economic zone. Following Maduro’s visit, Shenzhen welcomed three Venezuelan delegations at the end of April this year. Inspired by Shenzhen, La Guaira, a coastal city in Venezuela, is currently building an economic zone. The achievements made by Shenzhen over the past 40 years have been put on the agenda for the development of La Guaira, and the process of developing projects and strategic partnerships between the two cities has been initiated, according to Brazilian media Brasil de Fato. Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra also included Shenzhen in the itinerary of her first visit to China this June. During her visit, she expressed hope that the soon to be completed Chancay Port in Peru will emulate the development experience of Shenzhen. Tech cooperation One reason that foreign dignitaries visit Shenzhen — the city of innovation — is to gain insight into technological advances. A closer look at visits to Shenzhen by foreign heads of state and government leaders shows that all of their itineraries featured tours of the city’s renowned technology companies, including Huawei, BYD, Tencent, and Hytera. These companies not only exemplify Shenzhen’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, but also play a pivotal role in making the city’s products and technological prowess known to the world. Shenzhen has gathered some of the world’s most advanced enterprises, which not only drive the development of Shenzhen and China, but also bring opportunities to the world, Peruvian President Boluarte said. Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat posted on social media platform X during his visit to Shenzhen this April. He noted, “Shenzhen is located within the Greater Bay Area and is home to many innovative companies that are at the cutting edge of technology.” According to Heng, one of the main purposes of his visit was to learn how the companies apply research and tap Shenzhen’s ecosystem to drive innovation in areas such as financial services, advanced manufacturing, and pharmaceutical research. “In the 21st century, more and more young people are interested in modern high technology. We welcome all high techs from Shenzhen,” said Chandrikapersad Santokhi, president of the Republic of Suriname, during a visit to Shenzhen this April. | 