Before he became the top leader of the Chinese mainland, Xi Jinping spent over 17 formative years in east China's Fujian Province, a place he affectionately calls his "second hometown." His hands-on approach and support for private sector growth laid the groundwork for far-reaching reforms that continue to inspire economic innovation today.
During his tenure in Fujian, Xi made several visits to Jinjiang—a bustling county-level city known for its entrepreneurial spirit. From June 1985 to October 2002, he engaged directly with local business leaders, asking about new technologies, product development, and market dynamics. His encouragement helped companies like Fengzhu Knitting shift from family-run operations to modern joint-stock enterprises, a move that eventually led to their listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The so-called "Jinjiang Experience" now fuels a private sector powerhouse with over 320,000 market entities and 52 listed companies, demonstrating the power of innovation and reform. 🚀
Xi’s leadership skills were further honed during his time in the Xiamen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) from 1985 to 1988, when he held key municipal roles including vice mayor. In Xiamen, he introduced the groundbreaking idea of "small government, big society," pushing for efficient governance and active civic involvement. His initiatives—ranging from leading research teams to Singapore to organizing international seminars on export processing zones—significantly transformed Xiamen from a standard export hub into a dynamic pilot free trade zone.
Today, the spirit of openness and market innovation born in Fujian continues to shape economic policies across the Chinese mainland. For tech-savvy young professionals in South Asia and Southeast Asia, these early reforms serve as a powerful reminder that bold ideas and thoughtful leadership can create immense opportunities for growth and change. 💡
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Xi's Fujian years and China's support for private sector, opening up
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