2019China in Progress

Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area

Building a World-class City Cluster

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area consists of the two special administrative regions （Hong Kong and Macao） and nine cities （Guangzhou， Shenzhen， Zhuhai， Foshan， Huizhou， Dongguan， Zhongshan， Jiangmen and Zhaoqing） in Guangdong Province.

On February 18， 2019， the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China （CPC） and the State Council of China issued the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area， pointing out that development of the Greater Bay Area is not only a new attempt to break new ground in pursuing opening up on all fronts in a new era， but also a step forward in the practice of “one country， two systems.”

According to the plan， the area will not only become a world-class city cluster and an international innovation and technology hub with global influence， but also develop into a quality working and living sphere as a role model of high-quality development.

Comparison between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Worlds Other Major Bay Areas

Foreign Investment Law of the Peoples Republic of China

Facilitating and Encouraging Foreign Investment

On March 15， 2019， the Foreign Investment Law of the Peoples Republic of China was officially adopted， which came into force on January 1， 2020.

The law formulated by China aims to further expand opening up， actively promote foreign investment， protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors， standardize management of foreign investment， break new ground for all-round opening up and promote healthy development of the socialist market economy. The enactment of the law not only ensures equal treatment of domestic and foreign businesses regarding government funding， land supply， and tax and fee cuts， but also demonstrates the countrys firm determination to adhere to the opening-up policy and promote mutually beneficial globalization to inject new impetus into world economic development.

60th Anniversary of Tibets Democratic Reform

From Poverty to Prosperity

On March 28， 2019， a celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of the campaign of democratic reform in Tibet was held in Lhasa. Nearly 10，000 representatives from all walks of life in Tibet gathered in the Potala Palace square to solemnly celebrate the occasion.

On March 28， 1959， the Chinese government carried out democratic reform in Tibet and abolished the feudal serfdom of the theocratic system， freeing millions of serfs and slaves. Liberated people in Tibet received land shares and began enjoying political rights stipulated by law. Tibet， like all other provinces， municipalities and autonomous regions in China， marched a path of socialism. Over the past 60 years， Tibet has achieved a great leap from poverty and backwardness to prosperity and progress.

Second Belt and Road Forum

New Opportunities for Global Development

The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in Beijing from April 25 to 27， 2019. This forum， themed“Belt and Road Cooperation： Shaping a Brighter Shared Future，” attracted nearly 5，000 foreign guests from more than 150 countries and 90 international organizations.

Jointly building the Belt and Road has provided new opportunities for the development of all countries and opened a new horizon for Chinas further opening up. China will adopt a series of major measures to promote it opening up to a higher level. The forum achieved 283 practical outcomes across six categories， creating more space for global economic growth and making new contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations

New Platform for Civilizational Exchange

From May 15 to 22， 2019， the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations was held in Beijing. More than 2，000 representatives from 47 Asian countries as well as countries in other regions and international organizations participated in the event. The conference conveyed Chinas firm position on promoting equal dialogue， exchange and mutual learning among civilizations in Asia and other countries in the world.

With the theme “exchange and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and a community with a shared future，”the conference featured a variety of colorful activities including the Asian Cultural Carnival and the Asian Civilization Week and released the Beijing Consensus. Chinese and foreign institutions participating in the conference signed 26 multilateral and bilateral initiatives and agreements in four categories， forming practical measures and cooperation achievements to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning.

STAR Market

Internationalized Capital Market

On June 13， 2019， the STAR Market， informally dubbed the science and technology innovation board， was launched at the Shanghai Stock Exchange. As a new sector independent of the existing main board market， the STAR Market focuses on supporting high-tech enterprises involved in information technology， high-end equipment， new materials， new energy， environmental protection， and biomedicine. The move is a major reform of Chinas capital market to improve service for innovation-oriented enterprises， enhance market inclusiveness and strengthen market functionality.

The establishment of the STAR Market represents a milestone in the internationalization of Chinas capital market and promotes the integration of Chinas securities market and standardized international market in terms of market system and investment concepts.

70th Anniversary of the Founding of the Peoples Republic of China

A New Day for China

October 1， 2019 marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China （PRC）. That day， Tiananmen Square in Beijing hosted a massive gathering and a series of celebration events highlighted by a grand military parade.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the grand gathering， pointing out that over the past seven decades， Chinese people from all ethnic groups have made achievements through concerted effort and arduous struggle that amazed the world. He called on the people across the country to continue their efforts to achieve the Two Centenary Goals and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee

Opening a New Realm of National Governance

The fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee was held in Beijing from October 28 to 31， 2019. The CPC Central Committee released a decision on upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of Chinas system and capacity for governance.

The decision systematically summarized and profoundly expounded on the significant advantages of Chinas state system and national governance system across 13 aspects， providing basis for confidence in the path， theory， system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It charted course for future development of China—home to a fifth of the worlds population—to open up a new realm of national governance while contributing Chinese wisdom to the social civilization system of mankind.

Second China International Import Expo

Higher-Level Opening Up

From November 5 to 10， 2019， the second China International Import Expo （CIIE） was held in the National Exhibition and Convention Center （Shanghai）.

The CIIE is the only international expo devoted to importing in the world. It is a bold， historic initiative for international trade and an important measure from the Chinese government to firmly support trade liberalization and economic globalization and actively open its market to the world.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the event and delivered a keynote speech. He again stressed that China would open its door only wider to the world and uphold its fundamental state policy of opening up to promote reform， development and innovation. This policy is expected to take opening up to an even higher level. Xi emphasized that all countries should keep an open mindset， take more open steps， and work together to build an open world economy through cooperation and innovation that create mutual benefits.

Yangtze River Delta Demonstration Zone

A New Engine of Chinas Economic Growth

On December 1， 2019， the CPC Central Committee and the State Council of China jointly issued an outline plan of the integrated regional development of the Yangtze River Delta encompassing Shanghai Municipality， Jiangsu Province， Zhejiang Province and Anhui Province. The move brought the Yangtze River Delta integrated development demonstration area to a stage of full implementation.

The document focused on the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and outlined plans to build a regional cluster of high-quality development. Implementation of the outline plan marks a major strategic measure to promote high-quality development and improve planning for further reform and opening up to ultimately build a strong and vibrant growth pole for development. The demonstration zone aims to promote high-quality development for the new era in the regional cluster and serve as a key growth driver to boost the economy.