After sustaining its fast development for decades, China has started a new chapter in its opening-up process. But the way ahead is more challenging than the inward opening up that was initiated more than 30 years ago.

China's unfolding opening-up drama started with a small fishing village in South China close to Hong Kong. The village boomed under the opening-up policy, and soon Shenzhen was known around the world.

Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen were China's first four special economic zones, and their success prompted Deng Xiaoping, the architect of the opening-up and reform policy, to establish 14 "open" cities along China's coastline.