A corner of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone during its initial phase [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In 1980, the establishment of Xiamen Special Economic Zone was officially approved by the State Council, and the construction of Huli Export Processing Zone in Xiamen Special Economic Zone officially started on Oct 15, 1981. In February 1984, Xiamen Special Economic Zone was expanded from the Huli area of 2.5 square kilometers to 131 sq km encompassing the whole island. In June 2010, Xiamen Special Economic Zone was expanded again to include the whole of Xiamen City and four districts outside Xiamen Island (Jimei, Haicang, Tongan and Xiang'an). After this expansion, the area of Xiamen Special Economic Zone reached 1,573 sq km, 11 times larger than before. 

Xiamen welcomes people from all over the world and ships cross thousands of miles to reach its shores. The establishment of the Special Economic Zone granted Xiamen major missions in reform and opening-up, making it an "experimental field" and the "vanguard". Xiamen's historical process over the past 30 years has closely connected with the direction of "promoting reform and development through opening-up". Today, Xiamen has developed into an important supporting city for the Belt and Road Initiative, an advanced platform for cross-strait exchange and cooperation, and a civilized and harmonious home.