May 20, 1949 celebrated the liberation of Xi'an city. Upon the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi'an was chosen as the headquarters of the Northwest Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC and the Northwest Administrative Committee respectively and placed directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government. In 1954, it became the capital city of Shaanxi Province and was listed under separate state planning in 1984. In 1992, it was approved as an opening city of inland China. In 1994, Xi’an was authorized to be a national comprehensive supporting reform pilot city and a sub-provincial city. After 60 years' of extensive development, a complete industrial system and urban service system have taken shape. Xi’an has become a key center for scientific research, higher education, national defense and hi-tech industry in China. It is also a hub of finance, science and technology, education, tourism, and trade in the country's mid-western northern region.