A container ship sets off at Xiamen Port. [Photo by Zhang Qihui/For China Daily]

After 40 years of reform, opening-up and innovative development, the Xiamen Special Economic Zone in Fujian province has made remarkable efforts in industrial production thanks to its solid economic foundation, policies and broader market, said local officials.

Dai Bin, director of the economic development bureau of the management committee at the Xiamen Area of the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone, said: "Six years ago, the State Council approved Xiamen to establish a pilot free trade zone. We have become a special zone within the special economic zone."

In the past 40 years, Xiamen has carried out practices and implemented the innovation-driven development strategy. It has gone through the process from restraint to reform, from imitation to innovation, and from manufacturing to creation. It has become one of China's major reform areas with the highest priority policy density, the greatest strength and measures.

As a "special zone within the special economic zone", the Xiamen FTZ has made contributions to the economy of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone. With 2.5 percent of the city's land area, the FTZ contributes 13.6 percent of the city's GDP, 9.86 percent of local taxes, 30 percent of foreign trade imports and exports, and 46.6 percent of contracts using foreign capital. Since its establishment, the FTZ has promoted institutional innovation and launched a total of 498 innovative measures, of which 111 were national firsts, accounting for 51 percent of the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone. Dai said that the Xiamen FTZ has formed regional shipping, trade and financial centers. The zone has further increased innovation, created a single window for international trade, and created a digital smart port, which further facilitates trade.

In all aspects, the efficiency of customs clearance has been improved and the business environment of the port has been optimized.

"We once again ranked as the most excellent port of in the country in terms of port business environment. This is the third consecutive year that we have maintained first place." Dai said.

The Xiamen FTZ serves the national large aircraft strategy, forms a "one-stop" aviation maintenance industry structure, accumulates 1,036 Taiwan-based enterprises and takes the lead in building a cross-Straits youth innovation and entrepreneurship passenger base. On the first China Europe (Xiamen) train route, more than 1,000 trains have run in total. The route operator has launched the country's first Silk Road Shipping platform, and promoted the establishment of a cooperation mechanism with the Maritime Sea Silk countries.

The Xiamen FTZ is also exploring the development of a digital economy, strengthening digital empowerment, releasing digital dividends, advancing the construction of digital free trade zones, the construction of digital trade and promoting high-quality economic development.

It gives full play to free trade plus innovation and advantages, adheres to the combination of institutional innovation and functional cultivation and strives to build 14 key platforms such as aviation maintenance, financial leasing, and cross-border e-commerce to form an industrial agglomeration effect and economic growth momentum. It also promotes offshore trade, supply chain innovation, and international transit through institutional innovation. New business formats and new models, such as integrated marketing and cultural trade, have contributed to its high-quality development.