China's New Economic Regions

Special Economic Zones, Open Cities, and Open Coastal Areas

In 1978, the People's Republic of China took the first steps on a long path that would switch the world's largest nation operating under a Communist system of government to the world's largest nation attempting to operate as a new economic concept -- a socialist marketing economy. Since then, China's economy has truly modernized and embraced many of the concepts of economic geography, including creating a societal infrastructure that accepts capitalism. The reform process has affected all sectors of the economy (Roberts & Clifford, 1997, 54).

Looking back at the changes occurring over the last 17 years, it becomes apparent that one key moment in that evolution from Communism to Capitalism happened in 1992, when the Party officially recognized that a market system was compatible with the ideals of socialism (Lawrence, 1992, 36). Already possessing the world's largest population, most economic observers suggest that by early in the next century, China may have the world's largest economy. To test that speculation, this analysis will compare and contrast the three geographical economic elements--The Special Economic Zones, The Open Cities, and The Open Coastal Areas (The Pudong New Zone..., 1997). The first section of the analysis will focus on these zones within a three-part structure: their goals, their achievements and their failures. F

. . .
1990s: Open Cities and Open Coastal Areas.  Open Coastal Areas and Open Cities Goals of the Open Coastal Areas and Open Cities The five SEZs have been very successful at what they were designed to do: generating outside investment. But, as was seen above, the money was coming in but stopping at the coastal cities. This problem was addressed by the Chinese government which, between 1984 and 1994 created 14 "open coastal cities" that would have two main roles to play in the future economic growth. First, these cities would serve as "open" windows to the outside world, showing foreign investors how easy it is to invest in China. Second, these open cities would then "radiate" the economic growth into the central regions of the country (Opening to the outside world..., 1997). The original 14 open coastal cities were Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang and Beihai. Each of these cities would be allowed to serve the two functions mentioned above, as well as offer special incentives for outside investors. In addition, each open city was given the right to "market" to the outside world, its special attractions and benefits. Many of these citi
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Dollars Industry, Pudong Zone, Concept SEZ, Trade Organization, Roberts Clifford, Zhanjiang Beihai, Coastal Cities, Changchun Shijiazhuang, Party Jiang's, Republic China,  , special economic, economic zones, special economic zones, outside world, coastal cities, pudong zone, trade organization, world trade, free trade, world trade organization, special economic zone, economic zone, pudong zone 1997, jiang's gutsy gamble,
Approximate Word count = 3073
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page)

More Essays on China New Economic Regions