Strategic Development of Urban agglomeration in Shandong Peninsula

Author: Wang Naijing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The economic development history of both domestic and international economies has shown that urban agglomerations play a pivotal role in the economic development of a specific region or even a country. Since the reform and opening-up, Shandong Province, especially the Peninsula region, has experienced significant economic growth, with increasing levels of industrialization and urbanization, and the framework of urban agglomerations has basically taken shape. To accelerate the economic development of Shandong and achieve the grand goal of building a "large, strong, prosperous, and beautiful" socialist Shandong, the Shandong Provincial Committee of the CPC and the Provincial People's Government have clearly proposed the strategic vision of building the "Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration." Many experts and scholars have conducted research around this major strategic decision to explore strategies for a strong province and prosperous people. In 2003, the Shandong Provincial Office of Soft Science Research announced the "Research on the Development Strategy and Model of the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration and the Industrial Cooperation Zone with Japan and South Korea" as a major public bidding project under the Shandong Provincial Soft Science Research Program. Led by Lin Shuxiang, Vice President of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and headed by Professor Wang Naijing, Vice President and Doctor of Shandong University of Economics, the research team, composed of leaders, experts, and scholars from Shandong University of Economics, the Economic Committee of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Economic Research Institute of the Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, won the bid. After more than a year of in-depth research, reviewing a large number of recent academic monographs, papers, and research materials, and after repeated revisions, the research team completed a 50,000-word research report on the project in November 2004. In December, the report was approved by experts. The research on this project differs from the project "Research on the Development Strategy of the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration" led by Professor Zhou Yixing of Peking University, which emphasizes economic geography and spatial development layout. The main feature of this research is to highlight the guiding role of quantitative economics and regional economics in economic development strategies, emphasizing "coordinated" and scientific development, while fully analyzing and drawing on the development models and experiences of urban agglomerations both domestically and internationally. Based on a careful examination of the current development status of cities within the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration, the research team has proposed its own insights. The research team proposed the idea that the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration should be developed through the leading role of its central cities, proposing a "three-circle network" development model and strategy. It also predicted that the future development pattern of the urban agglomeration in the Peninsula region would be a development pole (Qingdao), two coordinated development poles (Jinan and Yantai), or a main center (Qingdao), a deputy center (Jinan), and a secondary center (Yantai). This shows that we strongly support the suggestion by Professor Zhou Yixing of Peking University that Qingdao should serve as the head of the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration. What we emphasize is to strengthen the leading role of Qingdao while focusing on coordinated development, namely: (1) constructing a three-metropolitan-circle network system suitable for the development level of the Peninsula; (2) promoting coordinated and comprehensive development of the urban agglomeration with market integration as the guide; (3) driving comprehensive industrial and economic development of the Peninsula through an outward-looking economy; (4) taking the path of new industrialization and focusing on building a number of "technology-intensive cities" in the Peninsula region; (5) vigorously implementing the "circular economy" to achieve sustainable industrialization; (6) promoting the clustering of similar value chains to establish a distinct regional "brand image"; (7) pioneering the fourth "talent" (talent attraction) to develop a manufacturing talent hub with a people-centered approach; (8) continuously weakening the constraints of administrative divisions and establishing a sound coordination mechanism for the development of the Shandong Peninsula Urban Agglomeration.