The first batch of coastal open cities - this is the common open logo of 14 cities, including Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Beihai. In the spring of 1984, the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council held a symposium on some coastal cities in Beijing, and decided to further open up 14 coastal cities from north to south. On May 4, 1984, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council approved and forwarded the minutes of the symposium on some coastal cities. This is another major step in China's opening up to the outside world, following the establishment of four special economic zones including Shenzhen. Recently, Ningbo, Nantong, Qingdao, Beihai and other places have held commemorative activities to review the unforgettable 40 years. From 1984 to 2024, the first batch of coastal open cities have continuously taken new steps and revitalized themselves in economic and social development, institutional and mechanism innovation, and high-level opening up to the outside world. 40 years ago, when the central government identified the first 14 coastal open cities, it was explicitly stated that the construction of coastal open cities mainly relies on policies. Firstly, preferential treatment should be given to foreign investors who come to invest and provide advanced technology; The second is to expand the autonomy of these cities and give them full vitality to carry out foreign economic activities. Seizing the opportunity and seizing the opportunity, 14 coastal cities from north to south, like a string of pearls, have illuminated the forefront of China's reform and opening up. Shanghai has created a series of "firsts" since China's reform and opening up: the first Sino foreign joint venture commercial retail enterprise, the first foreign-funded insurance company, the first pilot free trade zone, and the first China International Import Expo... With continuous expansion of opening up, Shanghai's economic strength continues to improve, and a series of pioneering attempts in opening up have been pushed from Shanghai to the whole country, helping to promote the process of expanding opening up nationwide. Today, Shanghai is designated by the State Council as China's international economic, financial, trade, shipping, and technological innovation center, with a regional GDP of 4.72 trillion yuan in 2023. Following closely behind are Guangzhou and Tianjin. In 2023, the gross domestic product of Guangzhou reached 3.04 trillion yuan, ranking third among all cities in the country; The gross domestic product of Tianjin city reached 1.67 trillion yuan. The regional GDP of cities such as Ningbo, Qingdao, Fuzhou, Nantong, and Yantai also exceeds 1 trillion yuan. The central government has proposed to gradually establish economic and technological development zones while determining the first batch of coastal open cities. The Ningbo Economic and Technological Development Zone, established in 1984, is the second national level economic and technological development zone established in the first batch of coastal open cities. Over the past 40 years, Ningbo has made every effort to build the Economic Development Zone into the "preferred destination" for foreign investment. The high-end manufacturing industry, represented by green petrochemicals, automotive manufacturing, intelligent equipment, and integrated circuits, has continuously improved its ability and speed in attracting foreign investment. In recent years, Ningbo City has also integrated six national level development and opening platforms, including Ningbo Economic and Technological Development Zone, Ningbo Daxie Development Zone, Ningbo Bonded Zone, Ningbo Beilun Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone, Ningbo Meishan Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and the Ningbo area of Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone, leveraging the advantages of functional policy superposition of "port+free trade zone+bonded zone+development zone" to form a city wide development zone (park) system with "one game" coordinated operation