Four years ago, the National Development and Reform Commission released a plan to transform the Pearl River Delta and promote the pan-PRD as a center for advanced manufacturing and modern service industries. Now, Guangdong has issued a similar plan to transform and develop its underdeveloped regions in the eastern, western and northern areas.
East Guangdong is slated for marine economic development and to become a livable and environmental characteristic city cluster. West Guangdong is set to be a national heavy chemical industry base and a gateway for Guangdong's participation in ASEAN regional cooperation. East Guangdong is also planned to become a demonstration zone for eco-industrial development and a bond for regional cooperation.
These transformation plans include 540 projects with a total investment of 2.05 trillion RMB, among which Guangdong’s five-year plan input contains 1.58 trillion RMB.
Develop urban regional advantages for multi-city developments
These transformation plans include the integration of Shantou, Chaozhou and Jieyang by building the Shantou-Chaozhou-Jieyang metropolitan circle and improving urban functions by centering on Zhanjiang, Maoming and Yangjiang cities.
East Guangdong will cooperate with neighboring Hong Kong and Macao to implement major projects. West Guangdong will cooperate with the Northern Gulf Economic Zone and international tourism in Hainan Island in order to strengthen its role in the Guangdong-Guangxi-Hainan marine economic circle. The mountainous northern region is expected to bridge the PRD and inner mainland as well as bond with Hainan and southwest China.
East and West Guangdong to focus on marine economy
According to Xiang Xiaomei, Director of the Institute of Industrial Economics of Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, East Guangdong can effectively cooperate with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to develop its marine economy while West Guangdong should develop cooperation with ASEAN countries.
Build an eco-friendly underdeveloped region
As the PRD's industrialization and urbanization process puts pressure on resources and the environment, North Guangdong will be the province's most important green ecological barrier, followed by East Guangdong.
North Guangdong has in indispensable role in stabilizing Guangdong's eco-friendly development because of its location near river sources. Provincial government advisor Chen Hongyu said that East and North Guangdong should develop according to their own regional five-year plans by strengthening public facilities construction, building green industry systems, and interacting with the PRD by implementing industry transfer.
Backgrounder: Economic Data of East, West and North Guangdong
From 2006 to 2010, Guangdong's total regional output for East, West and North Guangdong had an average annual increase of 13.7 percent, 12.7 percent and 15.4 percent respectively, above the provincial average level. By 2015, East, West and North Guangdong is expected to reach 598 billion RMB, 634 billion RMB and 525 billion RMB, with an average annual increase of above 13 percent, 12.5 percent and 10 percent respectively, according to provincial officials.
The urbanization of East and West Guangdong is expected to increase by 65 percent and 50 percent respectively. East Guangdong will realize regional urban-rural integration development, while west Guangdong will strengthen its urban function.
(By Mo Qun)
