Advancing the development and opening up of Qianhai is a major initiative in national reform and opening up personally planned, deployed, and promoted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. Since its establishment in 2010, Qianhai has consistently pursued bold innovations and independent reforms, starting from scratch and evolving year by year, demonstrating a vibrant development trend. Adhering to the principles of "leveraging Hong Kong, serving the Chinese mainland, and facing the world," Qianhai has become a new engine for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Shenzhen Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. By focusing on institutional innovation to create the "Qianhai model," it has been leading in the reform and opening up in the new era. Upholding the guiding principle of new development concepts for high-quality development, it has become a new driving force for innovative development in the modern service industry. Through meticulous planning and refinement, it has become a new internationalized urban center. By striving to create a first-class legal environment, it has become a new model for the rule of law in China.
On Sept. 6, 2021, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council officially released the Plan for Comprehensively Deepening the Reform and Opening Up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone (Qianhai Plan), offering a significant historical opportunity for the reform and development of Shenzhen and Qianhai in the new development stage. The Qianhai Plan explicitly outlines the further expansion of the development space of the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, increasing its total area from 14.92 square kilometers to 120.56 square kilometers. With this expansion, Qianhai now possesses core international bay area development elements such as air-sea hub, maritime hub, exhibition and business facilities, modern services, along with excellent ecological and transportation conditions. Rich in mountain and marine resources, it includes the big and small Nanshan mountains, 68 kilometers of coastline, 28 rivers that pour into the sea, two natural reserves, eight urban parks, and three islands. Besides, Qianhai boasts comprehensive sea, land, air, and rail connections, featuring an international airport, two railway stations, six port terminals, six open ports, one intercity rail line, seven urban rail lines, and six fast roads (including a cross-border passage).