From October 14 to 18, 2024, a research and consultation initiative titled “Yunnan Social Science Experts Visit Ruili” took place in Ruili City, located in the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture. Eight scholars and social science experts from various provinces were present to assess and offer strategic recommendations concerning Ruili’s resource economy, park economy, border economy, and emerging trade models. Their aim was to facilitate the transformation from a “corridor economy” to a “landed economy” and an “industrial economy.”

Ruili, situated at the southwestern edge of China, stands as the largest border city along the China-Myanmar border, featuring two primary national border crossings and twelve transit points. This unique area comprises a free trade experimental zone, a key national development and opening-up pilot zone, and the Jiegao border trade zone, which is distinguished as the only region in the country practicing a special supervision model known as “inside the country, outside the customs.”

During the research period, experts visited various frontline locations, including jewelry night markets, border crossings, industrial parks, businesses, and rural areas. They engaged in face-to-face discussions with grassroots officials, business representatives, laborers, and farmers to gain insights and gather authentic feedback.

On the morning of October 18, a decision-making consultation meeting was held, where the participating experts focused on five key topics: “Opening up to invigorate borders,” “Strengthening parks to boost industry,” “Promoting culture to enhance tourism,” “Developing特色 agriculture,” and “Modernizing border governance.” Their objective was to provide decision-making counsel for the socioeconomic development of Ruili City.

Professor Su Hao, Deputy Dean of the Global Governance and Development Research Institute at Renmin University of China, emphasized Ruili’s geographic advantages and potential for further openness. He described it as a crucial hub for connecting China with South Asia and Southeast Asia. Su urged that Ruili should tailor its strategies to local conditions, actively engage with national development strategies, and explore initiatives like innovative collaboration between border cities and hosting cross-border cooperation forums. His goal is for Ruili to take the lead in trials and set a precedent for border development and openness.

Professor Wu Conghu, the Director of the External Development Office at the Yunnan Provincial Government Research Office, stated that advancing the construction of border industrial parks in Ruili requires optimizing advantages related to openness, policy overlap, labor costs, and special resources. He highlighted the need to accelerate the engagement with industries relocating from domestic markets to South and Southeast Asia, fostering differentiated and complementary industry clusters to enhance the attraction and competitiveness of the parks.

Professor Liu Fujia, Dean of the Economics School at Yunnan Finance University, pointed out that producing agricultural products with strong regional characteristics and cultural significance is crucial for the development of Ruili’s specialty agriculture. He recommended implementing standardized production practices, building brands, and evolving the integration of agriculture with culture and tourism to further proliferate the development of local agricultural industries like lemons, pomelos, coffee, and tea.

Hai Jiang, Secretary and Chairman of the Party Leadership Group of Yunnan Provincial Federation of Social Sciences, noted that the preparation for this research initiative was thorough and the execution solid. He commended the experts for their heartfelt commitment, addressing key issues pertaining to Ruili and the Dehong region. The insights garnered from this initiative will serve as a scientific basis and intellectual support for Ruili’s future development. “Looking ahead, I hope the experts will propose more effective and practical strategies to tackle the actual challenges facing Ruili,” he concluded.