ABSTRACT
As mentioned in earlier chapters, for interior interests, the special economic zones epitomized the center’s preferential treatment toward the coastal region and symbolized China’s favor-the-rich regional development strategy. Nevertheless, by the late 1980s, central leaders had already started to urge the special economic zones to pay heed to the interests of the interior. When Vice Premier Tian Jiyun visited Shenzhen in April-May 1987, he commented that Shenzhen’s experiences should not only radiate to the rest of the coastal region but also reach western China (Shenzhenshi Dang’anguan 1991:255). Similarly, in late 1987 the senior statesman Bo Yibo called on Shenzhen and other special economic zones to help the interior through capital investment, technical transfer, information exchanges, and personnel training. Bo commented that the interior should be made to feel that it benefitted from the zones.
