Confidence bolstered

Following this strategic vision, the Xiamen pilot FTZ was launched and rapidly flourished.

"Today, the development of the pilot FTZ follows the direction pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping. We are strengthening confidence in high-level opening-up and advancing institutional innovation to support high-quality development," said He Dongning, head of the FTZ's administrative committee.

To date, more than 42,000 new enterprises have registered in the FTZ, with foreign trade growing more than 12 percent annually. In 2024, the zone contributed 12.4 percent of Xiamen's GDP, 35.5 percent of its foreign trade, and 30.6 percent of its utilized foreign capital — all on just 2.6 percent of the city's land.

It also has become a key hub for high-level openness and high-quality development, hosting the largest third-party aircraft maintenance base in China.

The strategy also laid out a blueprint for industrial development. It proposed "transforming traditional industries with electronic and other high technologies, developing emerging sectors, and forming a technological complex." Over the past 40 years, Xiamen's electronic information industry has seen explosive growth, with output rising from 487 million yuan in 1985 to 227.9 billion yuan in 2024 — a 466-fold increase.

"Xiamen's high-quality development and aesthetic appeal have provided strong support for enterprises," said Xu Jun, vice-president of Meitu Inc, a tech company known for its photo-editing apps.

"Our offices face the sea, inspiring creativity among our designers. It's a workplace that activates inspiration through ecology. Xiamen's natural artistic temperament makes it fertile ground for creative talent," Xu said.

Vital link

During his tenure in Xiamen, Xi personally led efforts to establish Xiamen Airlines, facilitating solutions to critical issues such as aircraft procurement and capital flow. Today, the airline stands as a vital air link fostering exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

As of May 2025, the company has hired 304 flight attendants from Taiwan — the highest number among airlines on the Chinese mainland.

"Xiamen Airlines has become our 'second home,'" said Chen Yuxuan, a senior flight attendant from Taiwan.

"More and more of our colleagues from Taiwan are putting down roots in Xiamen. Looking ahead, we will remain true to General Secretary Xi's instructions and continue to serve as a bridge in the skies, advancing integrated development across the Taiwan Strait."

The development goal set in the strategy was "to make Xiamen an economically prosperous, technologically advanced, environmentally beautiful port city with comprehensive urban functions and a relatively affluent population".

Today, many of its ideas have been realized, and the concepts it proposed continue to embody the essence of Chinese governance.

China is now advancing the formulation of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), and the Xiamen experience is once again drawing wide attention.

In instructions made regarding the 15th Five-Year Plan, Xi emphasized the need to uphold scientific, democratic and law-based decision-making, integrate top-level design with seeking advice from the public, enhance research and discussions, and build broad consensus.

Zheng Jinmu, the former planning commission official, recalled how Xi led the drafting of the strategy, personally traveling to Beijing to solicit expert opinions, organizing international seminars, visiting Singapore for study tours, and gathering wisdom from all sides to formulate a well-structured and scientifically grounded strategy.

"The strategy depicted a highly scientific and forward-looking blueprint, providing clear direction for the development of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone. It continues to offer important guidance to this day," he said.