Why does the central government require the six central provinces to accelerate their rise?
On May 27, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to review "Several Policies and Measures to Promote the Accelerated Rise of the Central Region in the New Era." The meeting pointed out that we must always adhere to the strategic positioning of the central region as an important grain production base, energy raw material base, modern equipment manufacturing and high-tech industrial base and comprehensive transportation hub, focus on promoting various key tasks, and promote the rise of the central region to achieve new results. A major breakthrough.
How did the central region rise? Why should we accelerate our rise?
The six central provinces account for 10.7% of the country's land area, carry 28.1% of the country's population, and create approximately 21.9% of the country's GDP. At the same time, the central region is located in the hinterland of China, connecting the east to the west, south to north, and has a hub position with developed transportation network, abundant food and energy resources, and mature industrial foundation.
Chen Yao, vice president of the China Association of Regional Economics and researcher at the Institute of Industrial Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Sanlihe that the central region has played a supporting role as the "backbone" in China's overall development, and the rise of the central region is of great significance to China's economic development in the new era.
"The central region's location advantages and resource endowments enable it to influence China's economic cycle and the stability of China's industrial and supply chains. It can be said that the central region determines the development of China's economy, especially for the current construction of a domestic cycle. The new development pattern of "main body and domestic and international dual circulation reinforcing each other" plays a key and core role and is crucial to coordinating national development and security. "
Since the symposium on promoting the rise of the central region was held in May 2019, the central region has continuously enhanced its comprehensive strength and competitiveness, accelerated the construction of a modern industrial system, and the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Tanzhou urban agglomeration, the Greater Nanchang metropolitan area, the Zhengzhou metropolitan area, and the central Shanxi urban agglomeration have emerged. , the central region has embarked on a new development track.
However, the current development of central China is also facing many difficulties. Du Ying, former deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that the current contradiction of unbalanced and inadequate development in the central region is still quite prominent. The competing development of six provinces in central China has also brought about problems such as industrial similarity, excessive competition, and weak supply chain supporting capabilities. The central region generally lacks strong innovation capabilities, and the tasks of transforming and upgrading traditional industries and cultivating strategic emerging industries are arduous.
The central region is also faced with difficulties such as a low urbanization rate and arduous tasks of rural revitalization. There is still a long way to go to rise.
Since this year, the central government’s requirements for the rise of central China have become increasingly urgent. This year’s government work report proposes “strengthening the construction of the national strategic hinterland.” On March 20, a symposium on promoting the rise of the central region in the new era was held. On May 27, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a meeting to review "Several Policies and Measures to Promote the Accelerated Rise of the Central Region in the New Era."
Chen Yao said that the word "accelerate" in the measures introduced this time is particularly prominent, reflecting the further increase in the urgency of the central government's request for the rise of central China, and accelerating the rise of central China is already in the specific implementation stage. At the same time, the measures introduced this time are more "tailor-made", more targeted, and more valuable.
The measures introduced this time continue to anchor the strategic positioning of "three bases and one hub" in the central region established since 2006. At the same time, they also adhere to a problem-oriented approach and add new connotations of the "new era", such as more fully reflecting new developments. The concept puts more emphasis on scientific and technological innovation and emphasizes the development of new productive forces in accordance with local conditions.
The measures also require the detailed implementation of various tasks and the implementation of a checklist, reflecting the official's determination in this work.
The meeting proposed that we should give full play to the advantages of gathering scientific and educational resources, adhere to innovation-driven development, and strengthen original scientific and technological research. It is necessary to develop new productive forces according to local conditions, accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system, make the real economy bigger and stronger, coordinate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, cultivate and strengthen emerging industries, and plan for future industries. It is necessary to give full play to location advantages, strengthen the construction of modern transportation infrastructure systems, promote efficient, free and convenient flow of factors, and better integrate into the new development pattern of services. It is necessary to coordinately promote ecological environment protection and green and low-carbon development, and accelerate the construction of a beautiful central region. We must adhere to the integrated development of urban and rural areas and solidly promote the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. It is necessary to vigorously improve the ability to guarantee food and energy resources and achieve mutual reinforcement of high-quality development and high-level security.
