WEN Yuyuan: Adapting to Differentiated Layouts and Exploring Diversified Development Paths for Urban Agglomerations

Urban agglomerations serve as the primary spatial carriers of urbanization in China. Nineteen urban agglomerations, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, are distributed across four major regions: the eastern, central, western, and northeastern areas, forming a differentiated layout.

Each regional urban agglomeration has its own characteristics and complements the others, yet problems such as unbalanced regional development and impeded flow of resources and factors still exist.

To enhance the level of integration within urban agglomerations and build a new pattern of high-quality development, efforts should focus on the following areas:

First, strengthening planning guidance and overall coordination. Establish and improve coordination mechanisms for urban agglomeration development, plan holistically for major matters such as industrial layout and infrastructure construction, and explore new models of urban agglomeration governance.

Second, accelerating interconnectivity of infrastructure. Promote the construction of intercity railways and suburban (commuter) railways to create "one-hour commuting circles," plan and deploy new infrastructure such as 5G networks and data centers in a coordinated manner, and explore the development of digitally intelligent urban agglomerations.

Third, deepening coordinated industrial development. Guide a rational division of labor among industries within urban agglomerations, support leading enterprises in laying out industrial chains across regions, build industrial cooperation parks, and explore mechanisms for benefit sharing.

Fourth, promoting co-construction and sharing of public services. Deepen cross-regional cooperation in government services, remove institutional and systemic barriers that hinder the free flow of factors, provide more government services on a cross-provincial basis, and improve mechanisms for the transfer and continuation of social security.

(Translated excerpts from the views of WEN Yuyuan, Researcher at the National Academy of Development and Strategy, and Professor at the School of Applied Economics at Renmin University of China, during an interview with Economic Daily.)

Linkage:[Economic Daily] WEN Yuyuan: Adapting to Differentiated Layouts and Exploring Diversified Development Paths for Urban Agglomerations