Seeking Endogenous Development - Ethnicity and Culture in Western China

Author: Zhou Dameng, Liu Zhiyang, Qin Hongzeng / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In addition to the two reasons mentioned above, there are also other factors. First, irrational resource allocation and a high degree of urban primacy. The industrial, educational, information, and financial sectors in the western region are excessively concentrated in a few central cities. The urban-rural gap and the disparity between large and medium-sized cities in the west are significantly greater than those in the east. The degree of urban primacy is high, with central cities accounting for a substantial proportion of the regional population. In western cities, residents can enjoy services almost on par with those in the east, but the quality of services deteriorates significantly as one moves further away. For example, sending a postal express from Linxia City (the capital of Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture) to Lanzhou (approximately 150 kilometers away) takes three days.
Second, relatively poor natural environments, such as water scarcity. In my opinion, addressing water issues in the west is more critical than tackling other problems, as without water, development in any form is difficult. However, the current focus of investment in the west is on transportation, particularly highways. In reality, transportation in the west is not yet strained, with limited existing traffic capacity. Instead, artificial barriers (such as toll stations set up by cities) hinder the development of transportation. For instance, the proliferation of toll stations on national highways naturally increases transportation costs, forcing drivers to resort to overloading to maintain profits. Overloading, in turn, leads to more traffic accidents and accelerated road deterioration, resulting in congestion—a vicious cycle.
Third, a shortage of talent. The development of the west requires sustained efforts across generations. However, currently, on one hand, talent is migrating to the southeast, and on the other hand, few highly educated individuals are willing to work in the west. During the Cultural Revolution, the educated youth who settled in the northwest established many farms, which are now thriving oases with excellent economic benefits. Today, developing the northwest also requires attracting a large number of talents—individuals who can root themselves in the region rather than just passing through. High-tech industrial parks or similar immigration hubs can be established to serve as focal points, driving broader development in the west.
Fourth, ethnic and tribal conflicts. Currently, conflicts in the west can be categorized into the following levels:
① Intra-ethnic conflicts, arising from disagreements over religious sects or resource competition. For example, conflicts among different religious sects within the Hui ethnic group are particularly prominent. P28