Jin Fengjun, the main author of the regional plan for the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone, agreed to an interview with the Chengdu Evening News. Jin is director of the Research Office of Economic Geography and Regional Development under the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Reporter: How long did it take to develop the plan?

Jin Fengjun: During the 11th Five-year Plan period (2010-2015), China promulgated a series of plans for regional development. It approved a dozen regional development plans and elevated them to the status of national strategy. The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone was a priority of the Central Government. The whole process of preparing the plan lasted for four years. The effort was initiated by the Central Government in 2007, with preparations that included academic research. In 2008, my work unit took charge and completed drafting the plan. During the May 12 earthquake period, China focused on post-quake reconstruction. By March 2009, the framework of the plan was basically completed with the joint efforts of about 100 people. Therefore, this plan was jointly developed by representatives of academic circles, enterprises and government agencies. By the end of 2010, the plan was essentially made ready. The National Development and Reform Commission finalized the manuscript and submitted it to the Central Government for examination and approval in the first half of 2011. Our plan is the first major regional plan of the 12th Five-Year Plan period approved by the State Council. This is of great significance.

Reporter: How will we improve the use of resources in developing the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone?

Jin Fengjun: We mapped the development plan under the themes of integration, promotion, coordination and development. By integration, we will consider all aspects of the industrial system, social security system and urban development system in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone. The Chengdu-Chongqing region has improved industrial infrastructures over the past 30 years. But compared with coastal areas, it remains less developed in technology. Only by adopting a series of measures to promote industry will the Chengdu-Chongqing region elevate its competitiveness. The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone must work closely to realize integration and promotion. The Central Government will endow this zone with a series of preferential policies to promote regional industrial development in Chengdu and Chongqing. The two cities will develop rapidly as a result.

Reporter: The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone comprises two cores and five belts in its framework. Which is most promising?

Jin Fengjun: The general layout was drawn on the basis of resources environment bearing capacity and development, while also balancing the spatial framework of regional development, relying on central cities, the Yangtze River golden waterway and main land traffic arteries. Chengdu and Chongqing, the two cores, might develop into twin engines for the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone. The five belts comprise the Yangtze River development belt, the Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan development belt, the Chengdu-Neijiang-Chongqing development belt, the Chengdu-Nansui-Chongqing development belt and the Chongqing-Guang'an-Dazhou development belt. Among them, the Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan development belt and Yangtze River development belt enjoy the greatest development potential.

Reporter: You have stressed many times the importance of balancing industrial development and environmental protection. In your opinion, how will the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone balance industrial development and ecological environment protection?

Jin Fengjun: The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone is apparently competitive in population and industrial concentration. In the course of development, it needs to emphasize environmental security and bio-diversity. To balance industrial development and environmental protection, it must promote a rational spatial arrangement of industries, adjust industrial structures and solve problems by technical means.

Reporter: What would you suggest to Chengdu entrepreneurs?

Jin Fengjun: I've been to Chengdu many times. Since 1988, I've taken part in at least four research projects on Chengdu. Chengdu has a profound cultural heritage, sound natural base and existing modern development trends. It is absolutely competitive in developing high-end service businesses and financial and insurance services.

The regional planning process has stipulated many orientations. In the future, the industries will surely concentrate in targeted key cities and key development regions. Chengdu entrepreneurs must think seriously about how to manage and operate these resources. Tourism, entertainment, finance, and technological service sectors will offer many opportunities. But it must be noted that the revaluation potential of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone will attract investors from all parts of the country. Therefore, local enterprises will be pressured to implement industrial upgrading. They must grasp opportunities with sound plans.

Links

1. Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone

In May 2011, the State Council officially approved the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone Regional Planning. It stipulates the strategic orientation of the zone, which is to develop into a major economic center of West China, an important modern industrial base of the country, an experimental zone to deepen inland opening, and a pilot zone to balance urban and rural development. It also must guarantee the environmental protection of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The zone is expected to become a major economic center of West China by 2015.

2. About Jin Fengjun

1961, born in Chifeng city, Inner Mongolia

1983, graduated from the geography department of Peking University, majoring in economic geography

1986-1989, a graduate student of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, winning the degree of master of sciences

2001-2006, an on-the-job PhD student of Renmin University of China, earning a doctoral degree in economics (In 1996, he studied at the University of Manitoba in Canada. In 2002, he studied the University of New South Wales in Australia.)

Research fields:

Economic geography and regional economics, with a focus on transportation geography, infrastructure development theory, regional development and regional planning