Eurasia Continental Bridge——An Important Link of the Coordinated Development between China's Eastern,Central and Western Regions

The new Eurasia Continental Bridgeruns from East China to Central andWest China, crossing 11 provincesand regions, namely Jiangsu, Shandong,Hubei, Anhui, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shanxi,Sichuan, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Ningxia.The total area is 3.6 million sq km and thepopulation is about 300 million, accountingfor a third and a quarter of the whole countryrespectively. The area is very rich in naturalresources, so it is called an "Economic goldbelt" and "Gold corridor". Aerial remote-control survey indicates that along thecontinental bridge from Lianyungang to theAla Mountains within China’s boundary,

An Evaluation on the Effects of the Policy of the Great Campaign of Western Development of China in the First 10 Years Based on the Kuznets Regional Inverted-U Theory

In order to reduce the regional differentials or narrow the gap in economic development between eastern and western areas and prevent the intensification of contradictions resulting from the regional inequality during the development process, the government of China launched the Great Campaign of Western Development （GCWD） in 2000. In this paper, we will evaluate the effects of the first 10 years＇ GCWD and use the latest Chinese annual data from 1978 to 2010 to investigate the problem of regional differentials in the development process, evaluate the effects of GCWD policy and test whether there is a regional Kuznets inverted-U curve in the regional development of China. The result shows that there are both good and bad news： the good news is that the inverted U-shaped curve of absolute differential between eastern and western areas finally emerges （the previous studies showed that the inverted-U curve did not appear and the differentials between eastern and western areas became worse） and the bad news is that the differential is in the first half of the inverted U-shaped curve in our choice of time span （1978-2010）, that is, it is still in the situation of deterioration, and the turning better point will emerge in 2025. Although the western areas have benefitted from GCWD, the absolute gap has been still widened. To narrow the gap, the western areas should accelerate the industrial development and the government should adjust the policy and make more efforts to support the development of the industry in the western areas, especially cultivate and support the development of the western characteristic and advantageous industry rather than just supporting the construction of infrastructure in the western areas.

Promoting East-West Interaction Exclusive interview with Dr.Cao Yushu,Deputy Director of the Office of the Leading Group for Western Region Development at the State Council

Economic growth and environmental "friendliness" are the dual missions of China's grand western development. In the past eight years,China has seen the gap between eastern and western regions still widening while also taking on the arduous task of protecting nature,ecology and environment in the western region. How has western development fared in the past eight years? What difficulties and challenges are being encountered? The development of the western region poses the single greatest difficulty facing China's regional economic development,but how can we advance along a "sound and fast" development path? The establishment of economic zones in Chengdu and Chongqing,Guanzhong and North Bay has opened up new possibilities and expectations for western China's economic development.

Scattered Rural Settlements and Development of Mountainous Regions in Western Sichuan,China

Making rural settlements of Mountainous Regions in Western Sichuan as the study objects and using symbolic statistical methods, then combining the case study of Daofu County, the paper analyzes the negative impact of the scattered rural settlements on infrastructure construction, farmers＇ income increase and mountain ecological reconstruction in mountainous regions of western Sichuan. The results indicate that economic density is positively related to both rural settlements density （R^2=0.73） and rural population density （R^2=0.77）, and it is the same for relationship between towns density and rural settlements density （R^2=0.88） and between towns density and economic density （R^2=0.71）, and the scattered distribution pattern of the rural settlements and shortage of economic centers is a major factor to the lagged socioeconomic development. On the eco-economic zoning to Daofu County, the paper indicates the spatial distribution model and the industrial development model of the rural settlements need to be changed, and rural population should be concentrated in larger rural settlements with development of off-farm industries while infrastructure construction is to reinforced.

The road map for green development of Western China

China has made some remarkable achievements in sustainable development,but the constant deterioration of the overall trend of the environment has not yet been effectively curbed.To achieve the goal of sustainable development,we must first ensure coordination and coherence of national development goals in different areas and adhere to green development road.To achieve the objectives related to green development,and to clarify the direction of green development in the next 20years,a road map is needed to guide and coordinate the process.This paper describes the concept of the green development road map,introduces a green development road map for the western region,and further elaborates it The road map clarifies the objectives and guiding principles of green development in the western region,points the areas that deserve more concern and institutional innovation,and builds a green development monitoring and evaluation(M&E)framework.Finally,the paper provides corresponding policy recommendations based on the established road map.

Changes in China's Regional Development Strategy and FDI Policy in Western Region

Chinahaswitnessedremarkableeconomicachievementssinceinitiatingitsreformandopening-uppolicyin1979.However,thewesternregion,coveringsome56percentofChina'sterritoryandaccountingfor50percentofveritieddepositsofmineralresources,hasnotenjoyedthesamedegreeo...

20 Years of the SCO:Development,Experience and Future Direction

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO)has withstood storms to create a cooperative platform in Central Asia that conforms to the trend of the times,meets regional needs,and serves its member states’interests.SCO’s commitment to innovative thinking,security cooperation and regional coordination has contributed to regional stability and development and to gaining experience for establishing regional and global order.China-Russia cooperation,efforts by the“Shanghai Five,”relations among member states,and external pressure have been the main driving forces supporting a huge increase in trade in the past 20 years.For regional development and stability and a greater role in global governance,the SCO should continue taking the long-term perspective in planning and policy.

The Status Quo, Opportunity and Approach——the Development of Ethnic Minorities in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative

Currently, China is advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, which creates a new opportunity of historical significance and provides guidance for the economic and social development of ethnic minority communities(particularly those in western China). Under the new historical conditions, it is necessary to innovate and improve China's regional aid policies and regional development strategies such as the "pairing assistance" and the Western Development, and organically combine them with the Belt and Road Initiative. In the meantime, China should revolve tightly around the internal and external "connectivity," and give full play to the functions of the "pairing assistance" policy and the "Western Development" strategy in a bid to boost the ethnic development of contemporary China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

China Powers Up Hydropower Construction in Western Region

This paper introduces the abundant hydropower resources in western region in China, the role hydropower will play in the extensive development of western region, the finished reconstruction activities, as well as the basic thought and near and long term targets on western hydropower development.

China’s Western Development Strategy for Modernization Drive

The Western Development Strategy(WDS)is a key aspect of China’s coordinated regional development strategy and effort to build a modern country.The world is undergoing profound changes that have not been witnessed in a century.This paper discusses the WDS’s importance in regards to China’s modernization drive and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.First,this paper identifies the WDS’s mission to improve people’s livelihood in China’s western regions,promote common prosperity for the Eurasian continent,and support the green transition of China’s and Eurasian energy economic and environmental systems,and safeguard ecological security in Asia at large.Second,this paper suggests that the key to the WDS is to reshape the geographical layout of economic activity in the western regions to avoid inefficiency.Specifically,China should develop a compact geographical layout of economic activity in the western regions,introduce a unique competition strategy,as well as find solutions for coordinated regional development based on key river basins.Finally,develop smart internet and inland free ports within the western regions.

数字金融发展提升“两山”转化水平了吗?——来自西部民族地区的经验证据

在数字经济的大背景下,利用数字金融打破“资源诅咒”效应,提升西部民族地区“两山”转化水平,将“生态高地”转变为“经济高地”,对于实现全体人民共同富裕至关重要。本文利用2011—2020年我国西部民族地区省际面板数据,实证考察了数字金融发展对“两山”转化水平的影响和作用机制。基准回归结果表明,数字金融发展显著提升了我国西部民族地区“两山”转化水平。从分项指标来看,数字金融发展对“金山银山”的提升作用显著大于其对“绿水青山”的影响。异质性分析结果表明,在市场一体化程度更深、人力资本水平更高和资源禀赋更好的地区,数字金融发展对“两山”转化水平的提升作用更明显。机制分析结果表明,数字金融发展可以通过提高技术创新能力和促进产业结构优化升级提升“两山”转化水平。本文的研究为进一步提升我国西部民族地区“两山”转化水平,实现全体人民共同富裕提供了决策参考。

进一步推动西部大开发形成新格局:进展与动力

西部地区在全国改革发展稳定大局中举足轻重,进一步推动西部大开发形成新格局意义重大。西部大开发战略实施特别是中央部署新时代推进西部大开发形成新格局五年来,西部地区的生态环境保护修复和经济社会发展取得显著成绩,但西部地区发展仍然面临不少困难和挑战,这要求进一步推动形成大保护、大开放、高质量发展新格局。进一步推动西部大开发形成新格局建立在增强西部地区内生发展动力的基础之上,需要从加快产业转型升级、加强生态环境保护修复、提高对内对外开放水平、统筹推进新型城镇化和乡村振兴等方面增强内生动力。进一步推动西部大开发形成新格局离不开中央和其他地区的外力支持,需要从完善东西部协作、深化对口支援、优化区际补偿、加强财政转移支付等方面增强协同发展的外部动力。

清代水利治理与地域社会的发展--以川西平原为例

清初都江堰渠系恢复以后,水利治理逐渐成为维系地方社会秩序的要务。官方政府在川西平原水利修筑事务中起到了主导性的作用,都江堰的治理模式奠定了川西平原“一体化”水利治理体系的基本格局,并形成了多方协作式岁修与官督民办式管理的水利治理特征。这种水利治理模式对川西平原地域社会的发展产生了深远影响,渠系的开发与河道的治理极大地推动了区域经济的发展;地方水利治理上,堰渠事务的分工与合作也不断协调着州县之间的关系;基层民堰管理上,堰长“中介人”的身份强化着官民之间的互动;于民而言,水利治理成为整合移民社会秩序的重要契机。

我国中西部地区经济高质量发展水平测度与区域差异比较

了解中西部地区经济高质量发展水平现状,进一步分析各地区经济高质量发展水平存在差异的原因,对加快推动中西部地区经济高质量发展具有重要意义。基于五大新发展理念,构建经济高质量发展水平评价指标体系,采用熵值法,对中西部地区156个地级市的经济高质量发展水平进行测度,并通过Dagum基尼系数、耦合协调度模型与Moran’s I指数,探究西部地区经济高质量发展水平的差异性及其原因。研究结果表明:中西部地区整体的经济高质量发展水平呈不断上升趋势,但仍处于较低水平,其中,中部地区的经济高质量发展水平高于西部地区,且两地区之间的发展水平有进一步被拉大的趋势。经济高质量发展水平差距主要来源于区域内差异,且五大新发展理念在互动过程中存在着严重失调的情况,会严重制约经济高质量发展水平的提升。对此,应持续坚持区域协调发展战略,提高地区创新水平,有效推动地区发展之间的良性互动。

“优师计划”:西部地区高质量教师队伍建设的政策机遇、现实挑战与路径优化

“优师计划”从源头上推进高质量教师队伍建设,为西部教育补短扶弱,是助力西部地区乡村振兴的重要举措。然而,“优师计划”在西部地区政策落地过程中面临政策保障不足、西部地区特殊需求难以满足、培养院校办学实力不足、利益相关方(考生)自身困惑等现实挑战。为提升“优师计划”在西部地区的执行效果,应强化计划保障力度,夯实计划执行基础;扩大计划执行范围,优化教师规模结构;提升西部地区师范大学办学实力,合理调整招生院校结构;完善西部地区教师人事制度,保障教师权益。通过优化政策实施路径保障“优师计划”在西部地区实施的政策目标,助推西部地区高质量教师队伍建设。

西部地区城乡融合发展水平及效率评价

基于CRITIC权重法、加权综合评分法及DEA-Malmquist模型,本文研究2014—2019年西部地区及其各省市城乡融合发展水平及发展效率。研究发现:(1)西部地区城乡融合发展水平略有下降,其中重庆、陕西融合发展水平较高,贵州增长幅度较为明显。分项来看,城乡经济发展融合水平呈下降趋势,城乡空间要素、人民生活、生态环境融合水平虽有波动,但总体呈上升趋势。在科学测度城乡融合发展水平与效率的基础上,得出了促进西部地区城乡融合发展的政策启示。