The development of an open economy in China——A retrospective analysis of 30 years of opening to the outside world

China’s three decades of opening to the outside world are a historical process of establishing and developing an open economy. This process can be divided into four stages:1) reducing regulation,rejuvenating the trade regulatory regime and delegating management rights to foreign-trade operators;2) developing foreign trade firms into de facto market entities; 3)pursuing trade liberalization and establishing an open economic system in conformity with international rules;4) furthering improvement and innovation in infrastructure. At the initial stage of establishing an open economy,China restructured its foreign trade system and learned valuable lessons about liberalization through system transition.China experimented with bold breakthrough initiatives in special economic zones and open coastal cities,and correctly selected an export-oriented development strategy. Two core policies underlying China’s open economy are the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral trade relationships,and realigning the institutional environment to comport with international rules.China’s open economy occupies an important position in the national economy. Moreover,it has become an important part of state’s macro-economic regulation and is exerting growing influence on the world economy.