Pudong witnesses the journey of a spindrift of the Yangtze River traversing most of China and leaping into the Pacific Ocean. That is perhaps a metaphor: Pudong is a treasured land of China and the world.

On July 15, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council issued the Opinions on Supporting the High-Level Reform and Opening-up and Building a Leading Area for Socialist Modernization in Pudong New Area, encouraging Pudong to undertake the heaviest burden and crack the hardest nut, become a trailblazer in higher-level reform and opening up and a pioneer in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects, and demonstrate practical examples of how it stays confident in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, so as to show the world the Chinese philosophy, spirit, and path.

As part of Shanghai, Pudong is important to China. On April 18, 1990, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council made the decision to develop Pudong. From that day on, Pudong’s significance to China was destined. It has undertaken the major tasks of China's reform and opening up, played a pioneering role, and carried the hope of the nation and the future of the country.

And Pudong has lived up to the expectations of the world. On November 12, 2020, at the celebration meeting for the 30th anniversary of Pudong’s development and opening up, General Secretary Xi Jinping said: “The remarkable achievements of Pudong’s development and opening up over the past 30 years have provided the most evident proof of the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and the most vivid portrayal of China’s opening up and socialist modernization drive!" That is the best interpretation of what Pudong means to China.

Another 30-year journey has begun. How is Pudong going to work more miracles? Trailblazer, pioneer, practical example... Pudong is now facing the new historical coordinates. What the state has bestowed on it is more than an array of honorary titles: they are responsibilities and missions.

After more than 30 years of development, Pudong has transformed from an area dominated by agriculture into a modern new city with agglomeration of functions, complete elements, and advanced facilities. This is a miracle that will be recorded in history. Pudong has brought forth China's first financial and trade zone, first bonded zone, first pilot free trade zone and Lin-gang Special Area, first wholly foreign-owned trading company, etc.. One can say that China has nurtured Pudong, and Pudong has nurtured, in return, many new things that mark the course of China's history.

Pudong is important to the world as well. Thirty years ago, when the Swiss man William Keller looked at Pudong from the Bund for the first time, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower had only one "ball", and the whole area seemed empty and lonely. Yet Mr. Keller made this bold decision to locate the multinational pharmaceutical company Roche’s first China plant in Zhangjiang, Pudong. Today, the radiant Oriental Pearl TV Tower looks quite small compared with its neighboring buildings, some of which are taller and stouter.

It is precisely because of these great achievements over the past 30 years that Pudong is also positioned as a functional highland for global resource allocation and home to the core area of Shanghai ??international financial center, trade center, and shipping center. The development goals set out in the Opinions show that Pudong also carries expectations of the world: by 2035, the city's development level and international competitiveness will leap to the forefront of the world; by 2050, it will become an important bearing area in the city with strong attraction, creativity, competitiveness, and influence globally, and its urban governance capabilities and effectiveness will become a global model.

It is important to take a long-term perspective. Pudong is bound to be full of world significance in all aspects. As clearly stated in the Opinions, Pudong will expand its opening up from elements to institutions and take the lead in establishing a new open economic system that is in line with internationally accepted rules. There is no doubt that Pudong is not only a pioneer in China's economic system, but also a fresh force in the reform of the world economy.

From the bank of the Huangpu River to the coast of the East China Sea, the fertile land of Pudong, after witnessing the magnificent era of reform and opening up, is continuing to witness the era of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and working miracles that will impress the world.