Central China is poised to play a pivotal role in accelerating China’s modernization, following recent deliberations by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. On May 27, the Politburo convened to discuss policies and measures aimed at boosting development in the central region for the new era. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping emphasized the need for significant breakthroughs to expedite the region’s advancement.
The central region, comprising the provinces of Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, and Hunan, holds immense strategic importance. Accounting for a tenth of China’s territory, roughly a quarter of its population, and about a fifth of its GDP output, the area is rich in natural resources such as coal, oil, iron, copper, and hydropower.
Historically, central China has been the heartland of Chinese civilization, with almost every ancient dynasty establishing its capital there. The region’s geographical and socioeconomic significance makes it irreplaceable in connecting different parts of the country.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the central government has launched a series of strategies to optimize the distribution of major productive forces and promote high-quality development. These initiatives include regional coordinated development, main functional region restructuring, and new urbanization projects. Strategic planning for the central region reflects the government’s high expectations for its role in national development.
The recent Politburo meeting and forthcoming policies aim to address shortcomings in the central region, such as imbalanced and insufficient development, relatively low levels of inland opening-up, weak innovation capacity in manufacturing industries, environmental challenges, and insufficient public service capabilities, especially in responding to public health emergencies.
By accelerating development in central China, the government seeks to unlock the region’s full potential, fostering innovation, enhancing connectivity, and contributing significantly to China’s overarching goal of modernization.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
