President of Venezuela Witnesses the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding

On the morning of September 9, in the presence of President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro, the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), Shenzhen University (SZU) and the National Office of Special Economic Zones (SUNAZEE) signed a “Memorandum of Understanding between SUNAZEE of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and CCSEZR of the People's Republic of China for the Cooperation, Development and Modernization of SEZs” (the Memorandum). The Memorandum aimed at formulating a strategy of cooperation, development and modernization of SEZs, and implementing a joint action mechanism in accordance with the Chinese experience.

In 2022, in an effort to attract foreign investment and revitalize the vitality of the economy, Venezuela enacted the Organic Law of Special Economic Zones. President Maduro described the four SEZs that Venezuela has established as having their own characteristics and development potential, and that the new zones will diversify Venezuela's economy. The Memorandum is also intended to assist in the building of SEZ. "We're stepping into a new path, a path that has been explored by Shenzhen already." Maduro believed that the experience Shenzhen has accumulated in building SEZs over the past 43 years is of great significance for Venezuela.

President Maduro shakes hands with Director Tao Yitao at the signing site

On the evening of September 9, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance Álvarez Márquez and his delegation had an in-depth exchange with SZU on the construction of a coordination mechanism to facilitate the cooperation, development and modernization of SEZs between the two sides and to play best of their roles. Attendees from the Venezuelan side: Johann Carlos Álvarez Márquez, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Superintendent of Superintendency of Public Property and National Superintendence of Special Economic Zones; Consul General of the Consulate General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Guangzhou; Guan Zongqian, Interpreter of the Consulate General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Guangzhou. Attendees from SZU: Prof. Zhang Xiaohong, Vice President of SZU, Prof. Tao Yitao, former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of SZU, Director of CCSEZR, President of BRRI, Prof. Pan Yanchun, President of College of International Exchange of SZU, Prof. Li Fan, Deputy Director CCSEZR, and Dr. Chen Hongbo, Vice President of BRRI, and Wang Yuren, PhD student of CCSEZR.

Vice President Zhang Xiaohong extended a warm welcome to Álvarez Márquez and his delegation and congratulated them on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of President Maduro.

Zhang introduced the brilliant achievements SZU has made in the past 40 years, and spoke highly of the contributions made by CCSEZR in "China's Path Going Global" and the introduction of the successful experience of China's SEZs to the emerging market economies. She praised that it has become a global think tank with international clout focusing on SEZs research. She then clarified talent cultivation, scientific innovation and international cooperation of SZU. She indicated that SZU can strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Venezuelan universities to jointly promote scientific research cooperation, including economic issues of SEZs, and talent cultivation at different levels in multidisciplinary fields.
Director Tao Yitao stated that choosing Shenzhen SEZ as the first stop of the visit to China, and witnessing the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation and development of special zones between the two sides were listed in President Maduro’s agenda, which is not only of great importance to the two countries, but also to CCSEZR. Director Tao Yitao highlighted to Vice Minister Alvarez the work of CCSEZR in the past two decades in providing consultation about SEZ development planning and training of SEZ management cadres for countries and regions including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Institution, Kazakhstan, the Russian Far East regions, and member countries of the African Development Bank, and also the cooperation between CCSEZR and domestic and foreign universities, think tanks and governments, in particular, the 23rd “World Special Economic Zone Development Forum”. Director Tao said that CCSEZR is the research institute of humanities and social sciences approved by the MOE of China in 2001, and is the only academic think-tank that places the study of SEZ issues at its core. For more than 20 years, it has offered consultations about the SEZs’ development for emerging market economies, shared successful experiences in building Chinese SEZs typified by Shenzhen, and contributed a lot in publicizing the Chinese Path, thereby providing emerging market economies with Chinese solutions to their problems in development. We believe that the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with Venezuela will be promising.
Vice Minister Álvarez Márquez was impressed and highly appreciated the achievements made by CCSEZR, especially the roles Director Tao played in serving the building of SEZs. He said that the experience of the Shenzhen SEZ is valuable for Venezuela’s exploration of similar policies during the construction of SEZs. According to him, the Venezuelan government attached great importance to economic and trade cooperation with China and hoped to develop extensive communications in the field of SEZs with China, especially CCSEZR.
President Pan Yanchun communicated with Vice Minister Alvarez about accepting eligible students from Venezuela to further their studies at SZU. Deputy Director Li Fan introduced the Theoretical Economics Postdoctoral Station of CCSEZR and expressed his willingness to accept eligible Venezuelans to join in and carry out research on SEZ-related issues. and Dr. Chen Hongbo exchanged ideas with Vice Minister Alvarez on the investment of entrepreneurs in the Greater Bay Area to Venezuela.

The meeting ended in a cordial and friendly atmosphere, and both sides had a frank and fruitful communication on the specific terms and conditions in the Memorandum of Understanding. Vice President Zhang Xiaohong concluded that CCSEZR will serve the national strategy along with academic research and talent cultivation. We will look forward to the future, but also be down-to-earth in research, and study academics on the basis of reality. Both sides have firm faith that the signing and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding will further enhance friendly exchanges between China and Venezuela.
Shenzhen Special Zone Daily link:
https://sztqb.sznews.com/ePaper/index.html#/article?date=202309/10&id=3118171