Shenzhen Party Chief Wang Rong speaks at a news briefing in Shenzhen Tuesday, August 3, 2010. [Photo by Hu Yang / chinadaily.com.cn]

Shenzhen, China's first special economic zone (SEZ), plans to explore new economic development methods as well as improve its citizens' happiness index in its future, Shenzhen Party Chief Wang Rong said on the eve of preparing for the SEZ's 30th anniversary.

The economic zone will restructure its economic pattern and take the scientific development path to build itself into an international metropolitan, capable of competing with Hong Kong, Singapore as well as big cities in the US and Europe, Wang told reporters Tuesday at a news briefing.

He also said making Shenzhen people feel happier is another important goal besides maintaining GDP growth, admitting that compared with some inland cities, Shenzhen has not done as well in offering security for young people working in the city.

Shenzhen, which was originally a coastal village, took off economically after it was approved to become an SEZ on August 26, 1980. Now the city is among China's most developed regions and boasts a per capita GDP of US$13,600 in 2009.

It is also home to some leading Chinese enterprises such as telecommunication giants Huawei, ZTE, internet company Tencent and electric car maker BYD.

Wang said he is confident that these companies will remain in Shenzhen despite rumors that some of them will move their headquarters. He believed the city still has great potential as long as its economic pattern is successfully transformed.