What is unique about China’s approach compared with the open policies of other countries?

China’s opening-up policy does show some unique characteristics in the world, which give it distinct advantages in promoting economic development and international cooperation:

Gradual and pilot-first strategy: Unlike many countries that directly implement comprehensive economic reforms, China usually adopts a pilot-first approach. For example, the special economic zones (such as Shenzhen) established in the early days of reform and opening up provided valuable experience for exploring a market-oriented economy. This approach reduces risks while ensuring policy adaptability.

Strong government leadership: In the process of opening up, the Chinese government has played an important guiding role, promoting economic growth through policy adjustments, infrastructure investment and resource allocation. This highly centralized coordination ability allows China to maintain policy consistency and goal orientation while opening up.

Focus on manufacturing and technological innovation: Compared with some countries that focus on opening up the service industry, China focuses on strengthening the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry while introducing foreign capital and technology, forming the status of a “world factory”. At the same time, through policy support, China has accelerated the development of technological innovation, such as breakthroughs in new energy and digital economy.

Promoting regional economic cooperation: China actively participates in regional economic agreements (such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP)) to enhance economic ties with other countries by opening up regional markets and strengthening connectivity.

Attractiveness of culture and market size: As a populous country, China not only provides a huge consumer market for international companies, but also enhances its attractiveness to foreign investment and talent by integrating traditional and modern cultural characteristics.

These unique features have given China’s opening-up policy a differentiated advantage on the international stage, and also provided a different development path reference for other countries.