Fujian Province became Xi Jinping's second hometown long before he rose to China's top job. Over 17 years in the coastal province, he championed policies that would shape China's modern economic playbook.
The Jinjiang Experience: A Private Sector Powerhouse
Xi made seven visits to Jinjiang between 1985 and 2002, focusing on private enterprises that were booming yet facing growing pains. He pressed companies to introduce new technologies, develop innovative products and embrace market reforms.
One landmark moment came in 2000 when he encouraged a local knitting and dyeing company to transition from a family-run setup to a joint-stock model. Four years later, the firm went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Today, Jinjiang has over 320,000 market entities and 52 listed companies with a combined market capitalization near 400 billion yuan (about $55.6 billion). Private firms now account for more than 90 percent of the city's GDP, taxes and jobs, proving the model's success.
Xiamen SEZ: Testing Reforms at the Frontier
As a municipal leader in Xiamen, one of China's first special economic zones, Xi held key posts from 1985 to 1988. It was his first taste of coastal reform experience, where he introduced the concept of small government and big society.
He led research trips to Singapore and organized China's first international seminar on export processing zones, paving the way for Xiamen's evolution from an export hub to a pilot free trade zone.
On a 2024 inspection tour, he urged local authorities to expand institutional opening-up, noting that today's demands for broader and deeper reforms are greater than ever.
Scaling Local Wins into National Policy
The lessons from Fujian have become cornerstones of China's economic strategy, known as the Fujian blueprint. What began as a county-level experiment in private growth now informs national policies on market innovation and opening-up.
For a global audience seeking fresh ideas on balancing state guidance with private dynamism, Xi's Fujian years offer a powerful case study in how local experiments can spark lasting, countrywide impact.
Reference(s):
Xi's Fujian years and China's support for private sector, opening up
cgtn.com
