Abstract
The three case studies can be compared with the well-known Shenzhen model summarized in this chapter. This comparison reveals both similarities, for instance, leveraging on local advantages, and differences, for instance, in the mode of globalization.
The three cities themselves make for interesting comparisons. There are commonalities and contrasts. The growth experiences of each city may appear distinct. Yet each speaks to the proactive role of government, although at different levels. Each city was able to take advantage of “local assets”. These cities also traveled different roads to internalization.
In terms of the lessons for development, these accounts not only illustrate the ways Chinese cities grow and approach globalization but also show the richness of the growth-globalization narrative conventional discussions especially of globalization usually bypassed.
This chapter was first published in China: An International Journal in Volume 17 Number 3 in August 2019. The full credit of this chapter is to the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore.
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- 1.
The province of Guangdong and Hong Kong share a common dialect, popularly known as Cantonese. Indeed, Hong Kong counts many migrants from the province.
- 2.
Fallows’s (2007) remark is typical: “Nearly every rule that might restrict business development was changed or removed in Shenzhen.”
- 3.
This choice had been made not only based on proximity to Hong Kong but also on its distance from the power center Beijing. While success as an experiment would see this model replicated, as indeed occurred, failure would have left relatively unscathed Beijing’s reputation.
- 4.
For instance, Shekou Industrial District was set up soon after SEZs. It was developed by China Merchant Steam Navigation Company under the Ministry of Communication (Zhu, 1996).
- 5.
The corporate income tax in the SEZ, and hence in Shenzhen, was just 15% compared to 55% in the rest of the country. Other incentives included (Zhu, 1996).
- 6.
These were Dalian, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Lianyungang, Nantong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Beihai. Further liberalization occurred in 1985 and after (http://www.china.org.cn/e-china/openingup/sez.htm).
- 7.
The tribute system instituted by China had countries paying token “tributes” to the emperor of China to acknowledge the centrality of China. In return the country received Chinese recognition and a promise of protection.
- 8.
In 2013, most of the emerging industries experienced double-digit growth (Quanzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics, 2014).
- 9.
The Maritime Silk Route was introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2013 to nurture close cooperate between Asia and Europe. It is to deepen integration through infrastructure construction, cultural exchange, and cross-border trade. Quanzhou is designated as the maritime road’s starting point.
- 10.
Yiwu was not the first to develop trade markets, Wenzhou preceding it, so that it has been argued that Yiwu’s was a derivative of the “Wenzhou Model” (R. Li, Wang, & Cheong, 2016a). However, Yiwu took the Wenzhou Model further by building in globalization.
- 11.
Of these products, Li (2014) noted that more than 100,000 manufacturing enterprises and 6000 world-famous brands exhibit or sell their products in the Yiwu market throughout the year.
- 12.
In 2005 the National Tourism Administration designated Yiwu’s China Commodities City, the largest of Yiwu’s 45 licensed markets, the first AAAA-level national shopping and travelling spot, thus enhancing the city’s branding (China International Tourism Commodity Fair, 2011).
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Wang, Q., Cheong, K.C., Li, R. (2019). Comparing Growth and Internationalization Trajectories. In: City Development and Internationalization in China. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0544-7_7
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