Before rising to national leadership, Xi Jinping spent over 17 formative years in Fujian Province, where he pioneered policies that would later shape China's economic trajectory. His hands-on approach in this coastal region laid crucial groundwork for modern private sector development and institutional opening-up strategies now implemented nationwide.
From Local Experiment to National Model
Between 1985-2002, Xi made seven research trips to Jinjiang, a private enterprise hub facing growing pains. His detailed dialogues with manufacturers like Fengzhu Knitting Bleaching and Dyeing Industry Co., Ltd. – where he encouraged transitioning from family-run operations to joint-stock systems – helped crystallize the 'Jinjiang Experience.' This model now fuels one of China's strongest county-level economies, with 52 listed companies and 90% of local GDP from private businesses.
Xiamen: Laboratory for Opening-Up
As Xiamen's vice mayor in the 1980s, Xi championed groundbreaking reforms in one of China's first Special Economic Zones. His 'small government, big society' principle and study of Singaporean development models informed Xiamen's evolution from export processing zone to modern free trade hub. During a 2024 inspection, Xi emphasized that 'requirements for reform and opening-up are higher than ever,' urging continued institutional innovation.
Gu Yan of the Xi Jinping Economic Thought Research Center notes these Fujian-era policies have demonstrated 'theoretical soundness and practical effectiveness' when scaled nationally. As China pursues high-level opening-up, the province's legacy continues informing balanced market reforms and global engagement strategies.
