SHENZHEN - China's first special economic zone (SEZ) of Shenzhen has finally received approval to expand from the central government, Shenzhen's Party chief and acting mayor Wang Rong said.

According to Wang, the central government will soon announce the expansion of the SEZ to include the entire city in a bid to accommodate its rapidly growing economy.

Wang's government work report, which he delivered on Monday at the annual plenary meeting of the city legislative body, highlighted plans for investing in areas outside the SEZ to redress existing imbalances in income, opportunity and quality of life.