About 30,000 cadres and technicians from central, provincial and municipal units stationed in Shenzhen, and those from units in the hinterland that have links with Shenzhen, have been able to grow professionally and then take back their experiences to apply them in their own work units.

The special zone has also offered about 150 courses dealing with the import of foreign investment and technology, international finance, Hongkong and Macao laws, foreign trade and enterprise management. More than 6,000 part-time students from the various ministries of the State Council, the provinces and municipalities are envolled in these classes.

- The Zone's Impact on Hong Kong and Taiwan. The development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone has enabled the Hong Kong compatriots to see the future of Hongkong after the resumption of China's sovereignty over the region in 1997.

The Hong Kong people said that since capitalist enterprises are allowed to exist in Shenzhen, they have no need to worry about the future of Hongkong. Taiwan compatriots also follow Shenzhen's development with interest.

Through the window of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Taiwan people have observed China's policy of opening to the world. After her visit to the special zone, a Taiwanese correspondent said with emotion, "How eagerly I want to see an early reunification of Taiwan with the mainland." She said the existence and development of the economic zone had given her "confidence in the reunification of the motherland."

During his visit to Shenzhen, Hong Kong Governor Edward Youde said the zone was very important both to China and to Hong Kong while Hong Kong's prosperity played a significant role in promoting the development of the one, which, in turn, was of special importance to Hong Kong.

- Foreigners' comments. From 1980 to October 1985, government and party delegations from more than 50 countries and about 8,000 experts, scholars and correspondents in 1,200 groups visited the special zone, 30 groups of whom were composed of state leaders at or above the level of vice-premiers and deputy speakers.

U.S. Vice-President George Bush, during a visit last fall, said the economic zone had proven that it was expanding and growing stronger, and is expected to have greater development and that the United States would further invest in the area. Norwegian Prime Minister Kave Willoch said that the special economic zone was like a catalyst that would stimulate China's economic development. First Vice-Chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers Ivan Ark- hipov said that after his visit in Shenzhen, he realized the concept of the special zone was very good for China. Romanian Ambassador to China Florea Dumitrescu said the policy of opening to the world was of significance not only to the special zone, but also was one of far-reaching significance to China, to Romania and other socialist countries.

Upholding the socialist road

As the special economic zone continues to import foreign capital and makes frequent contact with capitalist countries, decadent bourgeois ideology and lifestyles inevitably will creep in. Under such a special and complex environment, there have been doubts about whether the zone could continue to walk the socialist road. But facts have indicated that the people of Shenzhen have maintained their socialist orientation.

It must be made clear that Shenzhen is a special economic zone, not a special political zone, and therefore practises all of China's laws and statutes. The zone's political power is placed in the hands of the Chinese people. Foreign business people who invest in the special zone and engage in other economic activities must abide by China's laws; they can only carry out their activities within the limits of specified areas to gain their legitimate profits. If foreign business people should violate Chinese laws, they would be subjected to the same investigation and consequences as would a Chinese business person.

Another method that ensures the socialist orientation is that Chinese-foreign joint ventures and foreign-owned enterprises that have been set up in the zone supplement China's socialist economy. The economic zone is a special area under the overall control of the socialist economy. With regard to foreign business people who come to invest in the special economic zone, Shenzhen follows the principle of equality and mutual benefit to protect their legimate rights and interests. At the same time, the zone makes use of foreign funds, advanced technology and scientific management methods to develop socialist productive forces. In the process of development, even when some negative tendencies arise, Shenzhen authorities are fully capable of promptly correcting them, and ensuring that the economic zone develops along the socialist road.

In an effort to simultaneously develop its socialist culture and economic construction, the economic zone promotes education on communist ideals and discipline among the cadres and the masses. Shenzhen authorities are in the process of constructing cultural and educational facilities; one-third of the city's annual revenue is spent on expanding the socialist ideological and cultural position. Two-thirds of Shenzhen's factory and office workers study part time to improve their cultural and technological backgrounds. On the whole, social conduct and public order in the special economic zone are in good standing.

All economic and other criminal activities are being clamped down. In the past five years, the zone has dealt with more than 170 Party cadres involved in criminal activities, accounting for about 0.2 percent of the total number of Party cadres in the special zone.

A great future lies ahead for the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. With fairly sound foundations underneath every field, the special zone will continue to attract even more foreign investment. The in-depth development of the nation's economic reforms and the further implementation of the open policy have given a big boost to construction in Shenzhen.

The development of a commodity economy in the Zhujiang delta area, the exploration and development of the Nanhai (South China Sea) Oilfield, the construction of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station and the exploitation of the natural resources at Dapeng Bay port - all go to demonstrate the huge potential of the Chinese special economic zone. The satisfactory solution of the Hongkong issue after the agreement on Hongkong was signed between the Chinese and British governments is conducive to strengthening Shenzhen's economic co-operation with Hongkong and promoting economic prosperity for the two regions. The development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone has now entered a new stage.

During China's Seventh Five-Year Plan period (1986-90), Shenzhen authorities have set the following targets: the total industrial output value of the zone will increase at an annual rate of 22 percent, the GNP at 18 percent, and the per-capita GNP at 11 percent. Efforts are being made to gradually turn Shenzhen into a comprehensive special economic zone, one that emphasizes the development of industry and has a rational economic structure based on advanced science and technology and a high level of socialist culture and ethics.