It is well-known that China has achieved great goals in the fields of economic development, socialist modernization, political progress, the rise of national status and so on, in the past of more than 30 years of reform and opening-up. As the most successful one among all the Economic Zones in China , Shenzhen is more than enough to demonstrate those achievements.

During the late 70’s and early 80’s of 20th century, China ’s economy was on the verge of bankruptcy and Chinese government was confronted with severe unemployment problems. To address such a complex situation, the CCP made a critical decision to carry out the reform and opening-up policy, which put the economic development on the top priority of all works. Shenzhen, a small town adjacent to Hong Kong , was luckily chosen to build up the special economic zone.

Before the establishment of special economic zone, one town named Shekou, the very start point of present Shenzhen, was a tiny town with a population of less than 1000 and GDP less than 1 million RMB, but now, Shenzhen is a metropolitan boasts 13 million residents and offers near 10 million job opportunities, and its GDP surpass 1 trillion RMB.

The success of Shenzhen not only stimulate the economic development in the pearl delta region but also push forward the reform and opening-up movements in almost the whole coastal regions in China, and in turn, such policies stimulate the fast growth of China’s economy.

It is really a miracle to witness Shenzhen turns from a small village into a modern metropolitan in one generation. Shenzhen’s development pattern and its leading role arouse the great potential of Chinese people, which enable China to catch up with the trend of globalization.

Now, china is the second largest economy in the world, and its surplus capitals are estimated to be over several trillions RMB, which include both the state foreign reserve and cashes in the hand of companies and common people. In the past several years, the huge surplus capital has been seeking the investment opportunities. At the same time, some industrial capacities in china are far beyond domestic demands, and the impulse to transfer excessive capacities overseas is also pressing.

In my point of view, Africa continent could be an ideal outlet for china’s surplus capital and industrial capacities for the following reasons: the history of friendship and cooperation between China and Africa; the complementary factors between china and Africa in economy; and both china and Africa enjoy fast growth.

Besides the traditions ways, such as trade, single project investment and engineering construction to attract capitals and manufacturing facilities from china, I’d like to propose a new thought for this purpose: establish a Shenzhen alike special economic zone(SEZ) in the suitable area(s) of African.          

The proposed SEZ will be different from the current industrial parks, which may have already exist in some African countries, in the following: by the term of size, SEZ will be hundreds, even thousands of square kilometers, which is much bigger than a industrial park; companies within SEZ will enjoy more preferential policies; the administrative system and the business management organization of SEZ will be combined, to some extent, under the premise of sovereignty, SEZ will function similar like an autonomous region.

SEZ should be established by Sino-Africa co-operation. Under the premise of achieving the common goal, both the China and African in accordance with the agreement, mutually agreed, carry out their obligations and responsibilities, and to share the rights and benefits. Enterprises and companies stationed in the SEZ, if possible, should also be supposed to adopt the way of joint venture operations between China and Africa.  

At the initial phase, SEZ might anticipate that four types of Chinese companies which are eager to enter the zone: those with the substitute products for imports in local market; those with focus on developing and processing resources that are permitted to export by local government; those with products can be exported to Europe and North America etc; those with the abilities to produce commodities closely related with People's livelihood, at a much lower cost, compared with local producers.

We noticed that in Africa, prices of some commodities are three times of that in China , even more high. If related companies enter the SEZ, the price of such commodities will drop drastically for sure, and it means the lift of living standard for common people could be improved, even without the increase of their income.

From the prospective of benefits in setting up SEZ, the positive sides are as following: creating job opportunities; lifting GDP; improving foreign reserve; increasing tax income; upgrading industries.

In term of cooperation between china and Africa, co-setting up SEZ in Africa will build up a new development pattern, create new opportunities, and input new energies for the development of both economies, and it will also help us in resisting the global financial crisis.

In a broader sense, China and Africa will not be the only beneficial parties from SEZ, the third ones and the whole international communities will enjoy the positive consequence as well. It won’t be exaggerated to say, that the establishment of SEZ will not only consolidate and enhance the south – south cooperation but also help to set up a fair and rational global economic system.

To sum up, is the inspiration of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Sino-Africa Economy and Trade Co-operations.

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