At first sight, from a book, understand a blueprint and draw it to the end

On the morning of October 16, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited the Xiamen area of the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone for an inspection.

Xiamen was established as one of China’s earliest four special economic zones at the dawn of the reform and opening-up era. Over 40 years later, as the waves of reform further deepen, this city has undergone remarkable changes that were unimaginable in its early days.

The transformation of Egret Island serves as a microcosm of China’s sweeping reform and opening-up process.

Why Xiamen? Why China? Answers can be found in a book published in the 1980s titled “1985-2000 Xiamen Economic and Social Development Strategy,” showcased at the free trade zone’s achievements exhibition.

In June 1985, Xi Jinping took on a new role in Xiamen as a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Vice Mayor. At that time, the Xiamen special economic zone had just entered a new phase after five years of development and urgently needed a strategic plan to guide its decisions.

Back then, the concept of a development strategy was relatively novel and researching one was a laborious task that often lacked tangible results. However, Xi believed that as a leader, it was essential to not only focus on immediate needs but also to have a long-term vision, saying, “One must be willing to lay the groundwork and tackle unfinished tasks.”

Developing a long-term vision requires a solid blueprint.

In 1986, Xi Jinping led the establishment of a research office focused on economic and social development strategy, which resulted in the formulation of the “1985-2000 Xiamen Economic and Social Development Strategy.” This project involved a task force comprising over 100 experts and practitioners who extensively researched and documented the city’s conditions, resulting in hundreds of thousands of words of investigative material. The process included 21 specialized research topics and spanned a year and a half, culminating in a 200,000-word strategic report.

This was the earliest economic and social development plan compiled among the national special economic zones, as well as one of the first long-term strategic plans at the local government level in China.

As one official involved in the strategy development noted, “While others were drafting five-year plans, Xi Jinping aimed for a 15-year development strategy for the city, bringing in numerous well-known domestic experts. His foresight left a deep impression on Xiamen’s colleagues.”

The “1985-2000 Xiamen Economic and Social Development Strategy” laid out a specific plan for establishing the Xiamen Bonded Area and proposed the gradual development of offshore financial services at the right time. It was also pioneering in introducing the concept of an “ecological niche,” emphasizing the need to prevent environmental pollution and maintain ecological balance while developing the special economic zone.

“A good blueprint, as long as it’s scientific, practical, and aligned with people’s aspirations, should be pursued diligently from one generation to the next,” he stated. When the direction is right, one must remain steadfast in the pursuit.

Holding onto the essence of the “1985-2000 Xiamen Economic and Social Development Strategy,” the city subsequently drafted and implemented a series of plans, including the “Implementation Outline for Accelerating the Construction of Gulf-type Cities in Xiamen” and “Development Strategies for a High-Quality, Modern, International City (2020-2035).” By 2023, Xiamen’s GDP and total fiscal revenue had seen increases of 149.6 times and 460.9 times, respectively, while GDP per square kilometer rose 391.1 times, and the urban built-up area expanded elevenfold.

Long-term strategies require perseverance, and a committed approach to implementing the blueprint continuously is critical.

“Emphasizing the spirit of persistence, we must tackle every task thoroughly, progressing from one project to the next year after year,” he emphasized. These straightforward words reveal a profound strategy for governance.

In the 2023 Central Economic Work Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping provided action guidelines centered on “implementation,” focusing on ensuring policies are executed from multiple perspectives—including rigorously and practically.

The decision from the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee specifically highlighted the importance of adhering to a persistent and pragmatic approach in advancing reforms, stressing the need for concrete results and public satisfaction.

Reform and opening-up is a continuous journey, and during his visit to Xiamen, Xi remarked, “Today, the requirements for advancing reform and opening-up are higher than ever, both in depth and scope. Fujian and Xiamen must adapt to evolving circumstances, steadily promote institutional openness, and produce more substantial regulatory and policy outcomes to contribute new achievements in expanding high-level foreign engagement.”

Staying focused on goals and unwavering in executing the blueprint is imperative. In the new era, the grand vision for further deepening reforms is becoming actionable, turning “the hopes of the people into a reality.”

Here, history and the future intersect.