Central region the focus in new phase of growth

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee met recently to deliberate on the guidelines for promoting the central region's high-quality development.

In recent years, the authorities have taken a series of measures to boost regional economic development, from the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the launch of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and integration of the Yangtze River Delta to promoting the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle.

Connecting the eastern region with the western region, and the southern with the northern, the central region comprises more than 10.7 percent of the country's area and 28.1 percent of its population. Besides being rich in resources, it has developed infrastructure and boasts of a solid industrial foundation that has great potential for development.

The central region should consolidate its position as the country's food and energy production and raw materials base, equipment manufacturing and high-tech industry center, and a comprehensive transportation hub while adhering to innovation and promoting green development.

Several significant national development plans have been launched to support the accelerated development of the region, which comprises Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei and Hunan provinces.

For example, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hunan have all been incorporated in the development strategy of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Anhui has also been included in the integrated development strategy of the Yangtze River Delta, and Henan and Shanxi are key parts of the strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin.

The central region should give full play to its manufacturing industry, by consolidating the base of the real economy and promoting innovation in key areas for sustained development.

The central provinces should also strengthen cooperation and take measures to integrate their industrial and supply chains, and talents with the Yangtze and Pearl river delta regions, welcome the transfer of traditional industries and try to create manufacturing clusters with high industrial concentration and strong competitiveness.