WTO Year and Innovative Development Ideas for Shanghai

Author: Wang Zhan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: Theoretically speaking, the Chinese government possesses a vast amount of state assets, making it a "wealthy" government. However, this "wealth" is dialectical. If state assets remain inactive, they will continue to be depleted, ultimately transforming a "wealthy" government into a "poor" one. Conversely, if state assets can be continuously liquidated and revitalized, a "poor" government can become "wealthy." Shanghai has two paths available for building a world city: one focuses on adjusting the industrial structure by developing functional industries to enhance the city's competitiveness; the other focuses on adjusting the urban spatial structure by innovating urban forms to enhance the city's competitiveness. The latter path offers greater initiative and flexibility, fully embodying the "Chinese characteristics, the characteristics of the times, and the characteristics of Shanghai." To innovate the world city forms of Shanghai means transforming from the urban forms of developing countries to those of developed countries. At its core, this transformation aims to drive strategic industrial adjustments through urban spatial restructuring.