"The development of SEZs is an important part of building socialism with Chinese characteristics," Jiang said at a grand gathering here to mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Shenzhen SEZ, in Guangdong Province, south China.

The Shenzhen SEZ was established at the creative proposal of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping to boost the country's reform, opening up and modernization drive, and since then, it has played an important role in the country's reform and construction process.

Statistics indicate that over the past 20 years, Shenzhen's GDP has grown at an annual rate of 31.2 percent. Last year, its gross domestic product exceeded 143.65 billion yuan (US$17 billion), with export hitting US$28.2 billion.

The successful development of Shenzhen and other SEZs embodies the achievements China has made since the reform and opening up policy was introduced in late 1970s. It also serves as strong evidence of the advantages of the socialist system, Jiang said.

At the turn of the new century, China faces both opportunities and challenges in its modernization drive, Jiang said, calling on all Chinese people to have a sense of urgency to seize the opportunities to march towards the country's third strategic goal for modernization.

Jiang also urged the SEZs to sum up experiences, solve existing problems and speed up development to continue to play a model role for other parts of the country and to take the lead in realizing modernization.

The gathering was attended by 4,000 people from various circles, including Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive the Macao Special Administrative Region.

In another ceremony in downtown Shenzhen Tuesday afternoon, Jiang unveiled a statue of Deng Xiaoping, known as the chief architect of China's reform and opening up drive.

(People's Daily 11/15/2000)