Abstract
This chapter examines the pattern of industrial development in the nine Pearl River Delta (PRD) cities since the late 1990s. Guangdong province, especially the PRD, has spearheaded economic reform and opening in China and achieved spectacular growth in the past three decades. However, facing challenges from other Chinese regions and global economy, the province has been under pressure to reform its prevailing “front shop, back factory” development model. This chapter will explore the following key questions: Has the pattern of industrial development in the nine PRD cities changed since the late 1990s? If compared with the previous “PRD model” of development, what are the major changes and continuities of this path of industrial development? What are the key policy measures initiated by the provincial and municipal governments in promoting the economic and industrial transformation of the PRD since late 1990s? What are its special features and limitations?
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
The “magic three hours” effect was first suggested by Michael Enright and his co-authors (2005).
- 2.
Figures were compiled from Guangdong Statistical Yearbooks, 2001–2015.
- 3.
The draft of the 10th Five-Year Plan was presented to and endorsed by the National People’s Congress of Guangdong on February 11, 2001.
- 4.
Four key tasks listed in the Implementation Plan, including product mix adjustment, technology structure adjustment, industrial structure adjustment, and geographical distribution adjustment.
- 5.
This is an industrial policy which aims to move the low-end and labour-intensive manufacturing industries to the peripheral areas of Guangdong province and attract the agglomeration of advanced manufacturing, modern services and high-end industries in the Pearl River Delta.
- 6.
Figures were compiled from Guangdong Statistical Yearbooks, 2000–2015.
- 7.
Interviews were conducted with officials of different departments of the Shenzhen Government in the summer of 2015, as well as the scholars of the China Development Institute (CDI) , who participated in drafting industrial policies for the Shenzhen Government. For Shenzhen , the pressure for industrial restructuring came as early as the mid-1990s, because of the limited space within the SEZ that was reserved for industrial use. At the same time, Shenzhen also witnessed rising competition for FDI from neighboring areas that could provide more attractive policies to investors. Interviews in Shenzhen, August 2015.
- 8.
Shenzhen officials and CDI scholars admitted that the policies were made in response to the statistics that showed an emergence of hi-tech clusters and aimed at further strengthening the growth of such clusters. They argued that industrial policies were supposed to serve the changing market, instead of guiding it. Interviews in Shenzhen, August 2015.
- 9.
Most Shenzhen interviewees believed that the government’s role in the development of hi-tech industries was secondary to the market.
- 10.
According to the Guangdong Statistics Yearbook 2015, GDP per capita of Foshan was RMB 101,617, while that of Beijing and Shanghai were RMB 99,995 and RMB 97,343 respectively. Foshan’s GDP per capita first surpassed the other two in 2008, when it reached RMB 68,033.
- 11.
The interviews with officials of various economic departments show that the primary task would still be to attract investment, both foreign and domestic. The government has provided some funding and policy measures to promote industrial upgrading, but officials argued that it was up to the entrepreneurs to make the decision whether or not, when, and how to upgrade. Interviews in Dongguan, August 2015.
- 12.
In the interviews with Dongguan officials in the summer of 2015, it was pointed out that land use has been closely watched and audited by the Ministry of Land and Resources. The Dongguan Government itself has become more cautious on attracting and retaining investment projects that would use much of their increasingly limited land resources. There was a clear consensus across different policymaking bureaus, ranging from Development and Reform, Economic and Information, Trade and Economic Cooperation, to Urban Planning, that the city should attract mainly new investment projects for capital intensive, hi-tech, or energy efficient industries. Interviews in Dongguan, August 2015.
- 13.
Guangdong Statistical Yearbooks, various years.
- 14.
Figures were compiled from Guangdong Statistical Yearbooks, various years.
- 15.
Figures were compiled from Guangdong Statistical Yearbooks, various years.
- 16.
Figures were compiled from Guangdong Statistical Yearbooks, various years.
- 17.
Figures were compiled from Guangdong Statistical Yearbooks, various years.
- 18.
Figures were compiled from Guangdong Statistical Yearbooks, various years.
References
Bellandi, M., & Di Tommaso, M. R. (2005). The Case of Specialized Towns in Guangdong, China. European Planning Studies, 13(5), 707–729.
Chan, R. C. K., & Yao, S. (2010). New Trends in Urban and Regional Governance in the Pearl River Delta Region. Asian Geographer, 27(1–2), 127–143.
Chang, H. J. (1999). The Economic Theory of the Developmental State. In Woo-Cumings (Ed.), The Developmental State (pp. 182–199). Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Cheng, J. Y. S. (1998). The Guangdong Development Model and Its Challenges. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press.
Cheng, J. Y. S. (2000). Guangdong in the Twenty-first Century: Stagnation or Second Take-off? Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press.
Cheung, P. T. Y. (2012). The Politics of Regional Cooperation in the Greater Pearl River Delta. Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 53(1), 21–37.
Development and Reform Commission of Guangdong Province. (2011). Guangdong Sheng Quyu Jingji Fazhan Baogao (2009) [Economic Development Report of Guangdong Province Region (2009)]. Guangzhou: Jinan University Press.
Dongguan Municipal Government. (2010). Shishi <Zhujiang Sanjiaozhou diqu gaige fazhan guihua gangyao (2008–2020 nian)> shixian “si nian dafazhan” gongzuo fang’an [Work Plan for the Implementation of the ‘Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008–2020)’ and Realizing ‘Four-Year Key Development’]. Retrieved from http://xxgk.dg.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/zsjgy/s26830/201103/315282.htm
Eng, I. (1997). The Rise of Manufacturing Towns: Externally Driven Industrialization and Urban Development in the Pearl River Delta of China. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 21(4), 554–568.
Enright, M. J., Scott, E. E., & Chang, K. (2005). Regional Powerhouse: The Greater Pearl River Delta and the Rise of China. Singapore: Whiley (Asia).
Foshan Municipal Government. (2009). Foshan Shi “3+9” tese chanye jidi shishi fang’an [Implementation Plan for the ‘3+9’ Characteristic Industrial Bases]. Retrieved from http://www.foshan.gov.cn/fspubgov/szdw/0010/200908/t20090819_4705486.html
Foshan Municipal Government. (2010a). Guangdong Sheng jingji he xinxihua weiyuanhui yu Foshan Shi renminzhengfu gongtong tuijin youshi chuantong chanye zhuanxing shengji xingdong fang’an [Action Plan for the Joint Expedition of the Transformation and Upgrading of the Traditional Advantageous Industry by the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Information Commission and the Foshan Municipal Government]. Retrieved from http://210.76.70.91/Portal/ArticleDetail.aspx?Id=a5fd641bebc945eb8471be2246c95979&ColID=0550602af8ff4d53a3346ce612a54b2f
Foshan Municipal Government. (2010b). Foshan Shi jianshe xiandai chanye tixi guihua [The Plan for Establishing Modern Industrial System in Foshan (2009–2020)]. Retrieved from http://www.foshan.gov.cn/fspubgov/szdw/0020/201010/t20101009_1888328.html
Foshan Municipal Statistical Bureau. (2015). 2014 nian Foshan Shi Guomin Jingji he Shehui Fazhan Tongji Gongbao [Economic and Social Development Statistics of Foshan City in 2014]. Retrieved from http://www.fstjj.gov.cn/tjgb/201503/t20150326_5081106.html
Greater Pearl River Delta Business Council Industrial Restructuring in Guangdong Task Group. (2006). Report on Guangdong’s Industrial Restructuring – Opportunities and Challenges for Hong Kong. Retrieved from http://www.cmab.gov.hk/doc/study_report_on_guangdong_industrial_restructuring_eng.pdf
Guangdong Provincial Government. (2008). Guanyu jiakuai jianshe xiandai chanye tixi de jueding [Decision on Expediting the Establishment of the Modern Industrial System]. Retrieved from http://www.gd.gov.cn/gdgk/gdyw/200807/t20080728_60362.htm
Guangdong Provincial Government. (2009). Guanyu guanche shishi de jueding [Decision on the Implementation of the ‘Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008–2020)’]. Retrieved from http://www.gd.gov.cn/govpub/rdzt/lsgyzxd/jd/200904/t20090420_89881.htm
Guangdong Provincial Government. (2010a). Guangdong Sheng xiandai chanye tixi jianshe zongti guihua (2010–2015 nian) [Overall Plan for the Establishment of the Modern Industrial System in Guangdong (2010–2015)]. Retrieved from http://www.miit.gov.cn/n1146290/n1146402/n1146455/c3226101/content.html
Guangdong Provincial Government. (2010b). Shishi <Zhujiang Sanjiaozhou diqu gaige fazhan guihua gangyao (2008–2020 nian)> shixian “si nian dafazhan” gongzuo fang’an [Work Plan for the Realization of 4-Year Development]. Retrieved from http://www.gd.gov.cn/ghgy/wjzl/201101/t20110127_136996_1.htm
Guangzhou Municipal Government. (2012). Guangzhou guojia chuangxinxing chengshi jianshe zongti guihua (2011–2015 nian) [Industrial Development Plan for the Strategic New Industry in Guangzhou]. Retrieved from http://zwgk.gd.gov.cn/007482532/201108/t20110829_273864.html
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong. (2015). Industrial Upgrading, Transformation and Relocation in Pan-PRD Region. Retrieved from http://www.gdeto.gov.hk/en/doing_business/guangdong_promote.html
Huizhou Municipal Government. (2010). Guangdong Sheng jingji he xinxihua weiyuanhui yu Huizhou Shi renminzhengfu gongtong tuijin youshi chuantong chanye zhuanxing shengji xingdong fang’an [Action Plan for the Joint Expedition of the Transformation and Upgrading of the Traditional Advantageous Industry by the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Information Commission and the Huizhou Municipal Government]. Retrieved from http://210.76.70.91/Portal/ArticleDetail.aspx?ColID=0550602af8ff4d53a3346ce612a54b2f&Id=75a1200f73724ddbb73ee3dfbad4fe58
Jiangmen Municipal Government. (2011). Jiangmen Shi guominjingji he shehuifazhan di-shi’er ge wu nian guihua gangyao [Outline of the 12th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of Jiangmen]. Retrieved from http://www.jiangmen.gov.cn/zwgk/bggk/zfgb/zfgb2011d7q/szfwjxd/201111/t20111129_288690.html
Johnson, C. (1982). MITI and the Japanese Miracle: The Growth of Industrial Policy. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Johnson, G., & Woon, Y. F. (1997). Rural Development Patterns in Post-Reform China: The Pearl River Delta Region in the 1990s. Development and Change, 28(4), 731–752.
Lau, P. K. (2000). Industrial Structure and Industrial Policy in Guangdong Province. In J. Y. S. Cheng (Ed.), Guangdong in the Twenty-first Century: Stagnation or Second Take-off? Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press.
Lin, G. C. S. (1997). Red Capitalism in South China: Growth and Development of the Pearl River Delta. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
Liu J. H. et al. (2010). Zhenghe yu Chaoyue: Guangzhou Dadushiquan Fazhan Yanjiu [Integrating and Transcending: A Development Study on Greater Metropolitan Guangzhou]. Guangzhou: The Commercial Press.
Ma, X. (2012). The Integration of the City-Region of the Pearl River Delta. Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 53(1), 97–104.
Mulvad, A. (2015). Competing Hegemonic Projects Within China’s Variegated Capitalism: ‘Liberal’ Guangdong vs. ‘Statist’ Chongqing. New Political Economy, 20(2), 199–227.
Oi, J. C. (1995). The Role of the State in China’s Transitional Economy. China Quarterly, 144, 1132–1149.
Shen, J., Feng, Z., & Wong, K. Y. (2006). Dual-Track Urbanization in a Transitional Economy: The Case of Pearl River Delta in South China. Habitat International, 30, 690–705.
Shenzhen Municipal Government. (2009a). Shenzhen Shi xiandai chanye tixi zongti guihua (2009–2015 nian) [Overall Plan of the Modern Industrial System of Shenzhen (2009–2015)]. Retrieved from http://www.sz.gov.cn/zfgb/2009/gb660/200907/t20090723_1154710.htm
Shenzhen Municipal Government. (2009b). Shenzhen Shi guanyu <Zhujiang Sanjiaozhou diqu gaige fazhan guihua gangyao (2008–2020 nian)> de shishi fang’an [Implementation Plan for the Integration of Industrial Layout of the Pearl River Delta in Shenzhen]. Retrieved from http://www.smq.com.cn/web/ReadHotTalk.aspx?ID=143&HotID=9&TypeID=5
Shu, Y. et al. (2008). Guangdong Development Model—30 Years of Guangdong Economic Development (Guangdong Fazhen Moshi—Guangdong Jingji Fazhan 30 Nien). Guangdong: Guangdong People’s Publishing House.
Sit, V. F. S., & Yang, C. (1997). Foreign-Investment-Induced Exo-Urbanisation in the Pearl River Delta, China. Urban Studies, 34, 647–677.
Statistics Bureau of Guangdong Province. (2015). 2015 Guangdong Tongji Nianjian [Guangdong Statistical Yearbook 2015]. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
Wade, R. (1990). Governing the Market: Economic Theory and the Role of Government in East Asian Industrialization. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Wen, M. (2004). Relocation and Agglomeration of Chinese Industry. Journal of Development Economics, 73, 329–347.
Wen, T. J., et al. (2010). Jiedu Zhusanjiao: Guangdong Fazhan Moshi he Jingji Jiegou Tiaozheng Zhanlue Yanjiu [Understanding the Pearl River Delta: A Strategic Study on the Development Model and Economic Restructuring of Guangdong]. Beijing: Zhongguo Nongye Kexue Jishu Chuban She.
Wu, G. (Ed.). (2006). Guangdong Zhuanyezhen: Zhongxiao Qiye Jiqun de Jishu Chuangxin yu Shengtaihua [Guangdong Specialized Towns: Technological Innovation and Ecology of Small and Medium Enterprise Clusters]. Beijing: Remin Chubanshe.
Xiang, X. M. (2006). Guangdong Xinxing Gongye Hua Fazhan Daolu Yanjiu [The Study of Guangdong Pursuing the New Modernization Road]. Guangdong: Guangdong People’s Publishing House.
Xu, W. et al. (2011). Zhujiang Moshi ji qi Fazhan Jianjing [The Pearl River Model and Its Development Prospects]. Beijing: Central Compilation & Translation Press.
Zhaoqing Municipal Government. (2012). Guangdong Zhaoqing Xinqu fazhan zongti guihua (2012–2020 nian) [Overall Plan for the Development of the Zhaoqing New Development Zone (2012–2030)]. Retrieved from http://www.zqxq.gov.cn/ghzc/ghcg/201308/t20130812_212803.html
Zhaoqing Municipal Government. (2013). Zhaoqing Xinqu chanye fazhan zuanxiang guihua (2012–2030 nian) [Plan for the Industrial Development of the Zhaoqing New Development Zone (2012–2030)]. Retrieved from http://www.zqxq.gov.cn/ghzc/ghcg/201309/t20130926_215910.html
Zheng, H. T. et al. (2006). Zouxiang Gaoduan: Guangdong Chanye Jiqun Shengji Zhanlue Yanjiu [Towards High-End: A Strategic Study on the Agglomeration and Upgrading of Guangdong Industry]. Beijing: Economic Science Press.
Zhongshan Municipal Government. (2010). Guangdong Sheng jingji he xinxihua weiyuanhui yu Zhongshan Shi renminzhengfu gongtong tuijin youshi chuantong chanye zhuanxing shengji xingdong fang’an [Action Plan for the Joint Expedition of the Transformation and Upgrading of the Traditional Advantageous Industry by the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Information Commission and the Zhongshan Municipal Government]. Retrieved from http://210.76.70.91/Portal/ArticleDetail.aspx?Id=8d124a3bcdf14eb19dafab2d8f57ad12&ColID=0550602af8ff4d53a3346ce612a54b2f
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to acknowledge the funding support from the seed funding programme of the University of Hong Kong and the GRF project from the Research Grants Council (HKU 741113H). Research assistance by Liu Ying , Kary Chan , and especially Ray Poon is much appreciated. Any remaining errors are the authors’ sole responsibility.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cheung, P.T.Y., Leung, E.Y.M. (2018). The Changing Industrial Transformation in the Pearl River Delta: Issues, Challenges, and Intergovernmental Coordination. In: Ye, L. (eds) Urbanization and Urban Governance in China. Governing China in the 21st Century. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57824-2_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57824-2_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-58207-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-57824-2
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)