Yang Jian and Wu Yanni: The Theoretical Significance and Practical Value of "No Stopping in Reform and No Halting in Opening-up"
In December 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Guangdong Province and clearly proposed to “ensure that reform does not pause and opening up does not cease.” Subsequently, at the 2020 celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “reform does not pause, and opening up does not cease; we must promote reform and opening up from a higher starting point.” This important declaration indicates our Party's strong resolution and firm will to continuously advance the great cause of reform and opening up, carrying significant theoretical connotations and practical significance. On the new journey of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, we must continue to utilize reform and opening up—the "key move" [1] that decides the fate of contemporary China and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation—firmly follow the path of strengthening the country through reform and opening up, and continuously ensure that reform does not pause and opening up does not cease.
1. Embodying the critical characteristics of writing a new chapter for the era of reform and opening up
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has creatively proposed a series of new ideas, viewpoints, and judgments regarding comprehensively deepening reform. These profoundly answer major questions such as why and how to comprehensively deepen reform in the New Era, representing the latest achievements in the theoretical innovation of comprehensively deepening reform. Among these, the judgment that “reform does not pause and opening up does not cease” is the logical premise for advancing reform and opening up in the New Era. It demonstrates the determination, will, and sense of mission of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to unswervingly follow the path of strengthening the country through reform and opening up and to carry reform and opening up through to the end. From the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which launched the new journey of systematically and holistically designing and advancing reform, to the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which made systematic plans for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization, it is precisely because we persisted in “reform not pausing and opening up not ceasing” that we have written a new chapter of the era, continuously pushing the comprehensive deepening of reform toward greater breadth and depth. It can be said that this important judgment closely follows the requirements of the era for high-quality development and reflects the distinct temporal characteristics of reform and opening up.
It highlights the continuity of reform and opening up. General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly noted that “reform and opening up is an ongoing process with no end point” and that “China's reform and opening up will never stop.” Reform without pause and opening up without cessation are inevitable choices for advancing Chinese-path modernization. Therefore, there is no finish line or limit to reform and opening up. Further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting high-level opening up to the outside world in the New Era objectively requires gathering reform wisdom and stimulating reform momentum through great practical exploration to further resolve deep-seated contradictions and problems in reform practice without slackening or stagnating.
It demonstrates the creativity of reform and opening up. “Reform and opening up is always on the road,” and upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground is a major principle for further comprehensively deepening reform. “Reform does not pause and opening up does not cease” means one cannot stand still but must start a new journey from a new historical starting point, setting out again across a broader range, at a deeper level, and with higher quality. On the new journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, facing complex international and domestic situations, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and new expectations from the masses, reform and opening up in the New Era must persist in self-improvement and self-innovation. We must promote theoretical, practical, institutional, and cultural innovation, alongside innovation in all other aspects from a new starting point, ensuring the cause of reform and opening up continuously presents new horizons.
It clarifies the comprehensiveness of reform and opening up. Further comprehensively deepening reform emphasizes strengthening systemic integration, coordination, and efficiency, achieving the organic connection and integration of reform measures, and coordinating the "breaking" and "establishing" [2] of reform and opening up. The reason reform and opening up has achieved world-renowned successes is due to the fact that reform and opening up complement and promote each other. “Reform does not pause and opening up does not cease” centrally embodies the systemic thinking of “promoting reform and development through opening up” in terms of advancement strategy. From the perspective of the systemic concept, it highly encapsulates the coordination and unity of advancing deep-level reform and high-level opening up, while also highlighting the strategic priorities of focusing on systemic integration and promoting institutional innovation and institutional opening up.
2. Containing rich connotations for pushing reform and opening up deeper
“Reform does not pause” profoundly indicates that reform must be persistent, has no retreat, cannot be terminated, and has no end. The word “comprehensive” in “comprehensively deepening reform” requires reform to move from a “case-by-case” approach toward all-round, comprehensive reform. From the perspective of the depth and breadth of reform, “comprehensive” covers reforms in the economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological civilization sectors, fully reflecting the deepening and systematization of the Party’s understanding of reform. It marks a new stage in China’s reform and opening-up cause, requiring a further increase in the systemic, holistic, and coordinated nature of reform. “Deepening” requires putting effort into the transformation of systems and mechanisms. Proposing the goal for Shenzhen to build a “Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and a Model City of a Strong Country” means Shenzhen must lead by example across all fields and processes. It cannot merely be a "single-event champion" but must stand at the forefront across multiple fields and all dimensions, promoting the well-rounded development of the individual and the overall progress of society. It cannot be satisfied with leading at a certain stage but must lead the way through the entire process, treating being at the forefront and acting as a "vanguard" as an unremitting pursuit. It cannot merely pursue its own development but must achieve breakthroughs from “0 to 1” in various fields through institutional innovation, providing experience and solutions for the development of other cities in China. In terms of specific paths, in the New Era, to leverage local initiative according to local conditions, the Central Government has planned a series of high-standard reform pilots. Taking Shenzhen’s comprehensive reform pilot for the Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics as an example, the goal is to ensure that the pilot demonstration effect is built upon specific institutional framework innovations. Internally, it must actively use various reform mechanisms authorized by the Central Government for the comprehensive reform pilot and construct a system of rights and responsibilities compatible with reform tasks to ensure reform proceeds within a rule-of-law framework. Externally, it must align with first-class international standards, conduct comparative analysis to deeply study the institutional designs and management models of advanced global cities at similar developmental stages, widely absorb successful experiences, and continuously optimize the institutional supply of the Pilot Demonstration Area. This will enhance Shenzhen’s institutional innovation advantages and developmental vitality, allowing the “gold-lettered signboard” [3] of the Special Economic Zone to shine even more brightly on the new journey.
“Opening up does not cease” profoundly reflects China’s responsibility in the global development landscape in the New Era. It involves moving from a traditional, singular opening-up model toward high-level opening up to the outside world, where institutional opening up is an important hallmark. Compared to opening up based on the flow of goods and factors, institutional opening up focuses on rules, regulations, management, and standards. It is comprehensive, systemic, and stable, representing a higher-level and higher-quality opening up. Institutional opening up requires proactive alignment with high-standard international economic and trade rules, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). It involves achieving compatibility in rules, regulations, management, and standards in areas such as property rights protection, environmental standards, labor protection, government procurement, e-commerce, and finance. It means making full use of the advantages of Pilot Free Trade Zones as “experimental fields” for institutional innovation and further improving the mechanism for aligning with international economic and trade rules to release the dividends of institutional innovation across a wider scope. From the perspective of the scope of opening up, institutional opening up is all-round, covering economic, political, cultural, and technological fields. It requires not only actively expanding trade in goods and services but also continuously optimizing foreign investment access policies, strengthening industrial cooperation with countries worldwide, and promoting the stable development of global industrial and supply chains. From the perspective of the level of opening up, institutional opening up has formed an all-round, multi-level, and wide-ranging pattern. It involves multiple fields such as international commodity markets, capital markets, technology markets, and labor markets, as well as many industries including energy, transportation, finance, insurance, real estate, technology, education, and services. From the perspective of benefits, by continuously expanding opening up, institutional opening up can fully utilize both international and domestic markets and resources, promote the optimal allocation of resources, drive industrial restructuring, and improve the quality and efficiency of economic development. It can bring in advanced technology, management experience, and concepts, stimulating domestic market vitality, enhancing the innovation capacity and competitiveness of enterprises, and promoting high-quality economic and social development.
3. Highlighting scientific methods for advancing the systemic project of reform and opening up
Persisting in the Party’s leadership provides the fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform. The Communist Party of China is the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and is the highest political leadership force of the country. The Party’s strong and forceful leadership is our greatest political advantage. This requires giving full play to the Party's core leadership role in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties, and always advancing reform under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee. This is the fundamental guarantee that further comprehensively deepening reform remains on the correct path and can be organized and implemented. The CPC’s overall leadership runs through all fields and links of reform, enabling the effective integration of diverse social interests, the building of a consensus on reform, and the prevention of reform falling into the predicament of local interest games.
Persisting in the people-centered value orientation. On the new journey, the ultimate goal of further advancing the comprehensive deepening of reform is to continuously meet the new expectations of the people and their yearning for a better life. We must adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, rely on digital governance technology, continuously improve livelihood data systems, and respond accurately and actively to the demands of the people. We must focus on key areas of people's livelihoods such as healthcare, education, and housing, take social equity as the value orientation, and promote the balanced allocation and efficient use of livelihood resources through systematic policy design and institutional reform, ensuring that "the people's calls are met with my response."
Persisting in a problem-oriented approach and encouraging local exploration. As the reform plans approved by the Central Government take root, they encourage and allow different regions to conduct differentiated explorations. While implementing reforms, local authorities should also engage in exploration and innovation. Under the premise of adhering to the correct reform direction and following reform laws, they should dare to be the first to try and act as pioneers, striving to become reform pilot sites or experimental zones. They should be adept at promptly summarizing successful experiences to provide references for national reform. In building the Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, Shenzhen should persist in a problem-oriented approach during the process of further comprehensively deepening reform, focusing on solving pain points, difficulties, and bottlenecks that limit reforms in key areas. This will effectively prevent and resolve major risks in the reform process and continuously stimulate the momentum and vitality of economic and social development.
General Secretary Xi Jinping encouraged Shenzhen to “ensure that reform does not pause and opening up does not cease” and to write more “Stories of Spring” [4], injecting immense power and pointing the way forward for further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting high-level opening up. Looking back at the magnificent 45-year journey, Shenzhen once stood at the forefront of the era’s tide of reform and opening up with the courage to “be the first under heaven,” writing a brilliant chapter for socialism with Chinese characteristics on a blank sheet of paper. Standing at a new historical starting point, Shenzhen shoulders the glorious mission entrusted to it by the New Era. It must always persist in the Party’s overall leadership over reform and opening up, deeply understand and resolutely implement the series of important instructions given by General Secretary Xi Jinping on Shenzhen's work, stay true to our original aspiration and founding mission, and—with the firm persistence of “reform not pausing and opening up not ceasing”—bravely serve as the “vanguard” for further comprehensively deepening reform and the “window” for advancing high-level opening up. By anchoring the coordinates of reform in the New Era, accurately planning specific reform matters, improving systems and mechanisms, and coordinating the tackling of deep-level reform challenges with high-level opening up, Shenzhen will explore new paths and accumulate new experiences in solving development problems, stimulating social vitality, and improving global governance. It will lead the way for national reform and development, carry reform and opening up through to the end, and create new and even greater miracles that will make the world look on with narrowed eyes.