China's "New Area" programs gain momentum (4)

In addition to the national level development areas, some pilot zones have been set up to test specific reforms.

Qianhai in Shenzhen city, which neighbors Hong Kong, has made progress in finance innovation. The area is used as a testland for China's financial opening up, after steps taken by the government to increase the international use of the yuan, the Chinese currency.

More than 180 financial enterprises had registered in Qianhai by the end of November, accounting for 76 percent of all the companies introduced into the area, said Zhou Ziyou, deputy head of the Qianhai Administration Bureau.

China's top leader Xi Jinping vowed during his inspection trip to Guangdong from Dec. 7 to 11 "no stop in reform, and no stop in opening up." It was his first inspection tour outside Beijing since being elected general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee last month.

The expansion of new areas adapts to the trend of reform and opening up and will serve as an impetus to China's growth in the coming decades, said Zhou Liqun.