Assessing the “Revive the Northeast” (zhenxing dongbei) Programme: Origins, Policies and Implementation

Abstract

This article, focusing on the “revive the northeast” programme, examines four questions: why was the northeast region selected as yet another macro-site for Beijing-endorsed scheme of regional development; how does it differ from the “develop the west” scheme; what does the “revive the northeast” scheme entail in concrete policy terms; and how can we assess the impact of this scheme on the region's economic development? While it offers a relatively positive assessment of the programme's impact in facilitating a faster growth during 2004–06, future challenges are also noted for a sustainable development of the northeast region as a whole.

China: The Next Twenty Years of Reform and Development

“…He also notes the incentive problems inherent in a centrally directed regional strategy that lead provincial and lowerlevel leaders to plead poverty and appear needy in order to compete for the limited pool of WRDP funds. Moreover, the mind-set of leaders in the west and north-east is described as conservative and reliant on central government support, which, in combination with ample evidence of corruption and misuse of allocated funding, is a major constraint on regional policy efficacy (Lai 2002;Chung et al 2009). Golley (2007) describes the WRDP as a 'developmental state' approach to regional policy, in which the central government seems to be controlling development through state ownership and decree rather than by adopting policies that are likely to succeed in stimulating self-sustaining growth in the region.…”

“…As if this 'colossal systemic campaign' was not enough-and perhaps partly to ensure that he could lay claim to his own regional policy initiative as had his predecessors-Hu and his team formally launched the 'Revive the North-East' ('zhen xing dongbei') scheme in 2004, which they intend to run alongside the WRDP through to 2020. In addition, the 'Rise of the Central Region' ('zhongbu jue qi') scheme was officially pronounced in late 2005, although there appears to have been little to follow in terms of substantive or identifiable programs within it (Chung et al 2009). With every province bar the most developed eastern ones being targeted in one way or another, the Chinese Communist Party appears to be taking the regional issue seriously-on paper at least.…”

Estimates and Predictions of Methane Emissions from Wastewater in China from 2000 to 2020

“…To change this situation, the Chinese government has undertaken a series of policies to better balance each region's development. With the implementation of “the Great Western Development Strategy” (Lai, ), “the Rise of Central China Plan” (Xinhua News Agency, ), and “Revitalize The Old Northeast Industrial Bases” (Chung et al, ), great progress has been made toward the development of China's less‐developed regions. Urban construction and economic development are much more developed in the central inland regions and have gradually become balanced and stable in the southeastern coastal regions, which will lead to a shift in methane emissions from now to the future.…”

From old comrades to new partnerships: dynamic development of economic relations between China and North Korea

“…North Korea is currently deepening economic cooperation with China to overcome international sanctions and achieve the goal of building a strong, prosperous, and great country. The Chinese government has a substantial interest in developing Northeast China as a ‘fourth economic engine’ following the Pearl River delta, the Yangtze River delta, and the Beijing‐Tianjin corridor (Li 2004; Chung et al. 2009, 110).…”