On the eve of its 30th birthday as China's first economic reform zone, Shenzhen received a lavish "coming out" gift from the central government.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, Wednesday decreed the southern coastal city bordering Hong Kong is to become "a national economic center" and "a city of global clout" in exchanges of culture, economy and technology.

Its reclassification from "the central city in southern China" came in the State Council's reply to its Urban Development Plan as the city prepares to mark its big anniversary on Thursday.

But like any person coming of age, Shenzhen is finding that with maturity comes greater responsibility and the realization that it needs to improve itself to make its way in the world.

Its new status carries with it the role of the economic axis to drive the development of surrounding cities such as Guangzhou, Dongguan and Huizhou, as well as Jiangxi and Hunan provinces to its north.

Xu Chongguang, deputy director of the Shenzhen Municipal Planning and Land resources Commission, says the State Council has recognized Shenzhen's acknowledgement of its responsibilities.

"When we started to map out the plan in October 2006, we stressed the control and suppression of excessive urban expansion so as to explore a sustained and more effective way for China's urban development," says Xu.

Rigid targets include limiting the built-up area to 890 square kilometers by 2020, only half of its total area, and capping the permanent population at 11 million, a rise of 22 percent from the current 9 million.

The city is required to deepen its ties with Hong Kong, give priority to public and green transport, and become a sustainable and environment-friendly habitat complete with quality public services in education, health care, social security and housing for low-income families.

Two new centers strategic to its internationalization are to be built: a service center in Qianhai to speed Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation; and a high-end manufacturing base doubling as a regional trade center to the west of Shajing and north of Bao'an Airport.

Detailed plans are expected to be released at the end of the year so construction can begin in earnest next year, says Xu.

Wang Rong, secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, says Shenzhen's soaring gross domestic product -- up from 196 million yuan in 1979 to 820 billion yuan last year -- has spurred other cities to copy its model, known as "Shenzhen speed."

"After making tremendous contributions to raising the material well-being of the Chinese people in the past 30 years, Shenzhen has a new role to play in reform, which is to improve the environment for people and businesses to prosper, and become an international modern city on a par with Hong Kong and Singapore," he said.