China issue a blueprint for the Beibu Gulf urban cluster during the 14th Five-Year Plan (Part 1)

 An aerial view of Beibu Gulf Port in Qinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]

A blueprint for the Beibu Gulf urban cluster during the 14th Five-Year Plan period （2021-2025） was approved by the State Council in April 2022.

1. BACKGROUND

Located in the southwestern part of China, the Beibu Gulf urban cluster neighbors Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and also faces Southeast Asia. It is situated at the intersection of China's opening-up of the frontier and coastal areas and plays an important strategic role in China's opening-up and cooperation with the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

It covers 12 cities and three counties including Nanning, Beihai, Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, Yulin, and Chongzuo in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region; Zhanjiang, Maoming, and Yangjiang in Guangdong Province; and Haikou, Danzhou, Dongfang and the counties of Chengmai, Lingao, and Changjiang in Hainan Province. The urban cluster covers a land area of 116,600 square kilometers and a coastline of 4,234 km including the corresponding sea area.

Since the implementation of the Beibu Gulf Urban Cluster Development Plan in 2017, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan Provinces have improved the working mechanism and vigorously promoted the key tasks, and continuously consolidated the economic and social development of the urban cluster. A port-side industrial cluster with petrochemicals, metallurgy, energy, and grain and oil processing as its pillar has initially formed, emerging industries and modern services have accelerated the development. The population and economic agglomeration capacity of key cities such as Nanning, Haikou, Zhanjiang, etc. have been continuously increased and enhanced, and the urbanization rate of the registered population has increased 7 percentage points. The supporting capacity of infrastructure has been effectively improved, the number of New Land-Sea Corridor in West China freight train trips has steadily operated and dramatically surged, the trunk highway network of the urban cluster has been basically formed, and the growth rate of port cargo throughout rank among the top in China, and the route network covers ASEAN and main domestic ports.

With the environment quality ranking among the top in China, the water quality of key rivers in Xijiang River Basin and offshore waters is improving. Opening-up has been deepened, the value of trade in goods between China and other counties has increased significantly, the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port has been sped up, and the construction of important opening-up platforms such as the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone has been steadily advanced, and the economic and trade cooperation and the cultural and people-to-people exchanges with ASEAN countries have continued to deepen.

At the same time, the development of the Beibu Gulf urban cluster still confronts some difficulties and problems in terms of the relatively low level of economic development, the domination of the heavy industry, and the urgent transformation needed for the traditional development path under the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. The boosting and driving capacity of central cities is limited and the development of some node cities is less than expected. The division of port functions is not clear enough. As a result, homogeneous competition is noticeable and the construction of external channels is lagging. The shortcomings of environmental infrastructure are prominent, and the environmental capacity of partial marine areas tends to be saturated, the mangrove area in some regions is shrinking and the ecological functions are reduced.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China will deepen the opening-up and cooperation in multiple areas with ASEAN and the countries along the Belt and Road, and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port should be continuously advanced and efforts need to be urged to better serve the construction of the New Land-Sea Corridor in West China, the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality should be incorporated into the overall ecological conservation layout and economic social development. The strategic position of the Beibu Gulf urban cluster is more prominent with bright prospects for development, so it is necessary to be more proactive to develop as a sustainable driver for China's high-quality development.

2. OVERALL REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Guiding ideology

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we must fully implement the guiding principles from the 19^th CPC National Congress and all plenary sessions of the 19^th CPC Central Committee, in all fields of endeavor, create a new pattern of development, itself in a new stage of development, apply the new development philosophy in full, deepen reform and opening up in all respects, pursue innovation-driven development, and promote high-quality development. Based on the New Land-Sea Corridor in West China, construction of the cluster should be connected with the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and other major regional strategies. It should also play a coordinating role in the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port and contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the circular. Actively expand the cooperation in all aspects, vigorously develop the seaward economy, speed up the construction of the Blue Bay city clusters, find a new path in promoting the high-quality development of the urban cluster, and show new achievements in serving and integrating into the new development pattern, make new progress in advancing green development, and be more committed to consolidating border security.

2.2 Work principles

Reinforcing complementarity and enhancing collaboration. Based on the resource and environmental carrying capacity as well as the development of each city, fully leverage the comparative strengths and source endowment, integrate and optimize the layout of major production capacities, strengthen the development of the different divisions of labor, improve the cross-regional benefit-sharing mechanism, and form a coordinated development pattern with mutually complementary with own strengths.

Integrating land and sea resources and encouraging interactions between ports and cities. The high-quality development of terrestrial hinterland should serve the high-level development and conservation of ocean areas, and the ecological environmental capacity of the bay should act as a constraint for the development of land and marine, so as to enhance the overall development of land and sea. Clarify the functional positioning of cities, harbors, and ports, scientifically optimize the layout of urban space and industries near the ports, and strengthen the mutual integration of ports and cities.

Expanding opening-up and deepening cooperation. To coordinate domestic and international markets and resources, the Beibu Gulf urban cluster should act as a frontier and window for the cooperation with ASEAN, strengthen the system integration and innovation of the Hainan Free Trade Port and Free Trade Pilot Zone, and promote the all-round opening-up with steady progress made.

Driven by the market and led by the government. Give full play to the decisive role of the market in allocating resources, promote the efficient and convenient distribution of factors, and improve market integration. Giving better play to the role of the government and adopt reform thinking and innovative methods to solve problems and strengthen market vitality in spatial development control, infrastructure layout, public service supply, and institutional mechanism innovation.

Strengthening the bottom line and forestalling risk. Coordinate development and security, enhance risk prevention and control mechanism, and build capacities for responding to risks. Build safe and efficient sea corridors, fully enhance the ability to maintain national security in key areas such as energy and food, strengthen the public security, improve the emergency management system, and effectively prevent and defuse major risks.

2.3 Development Objectives

By 2025, the Beibu Gulf urban cluster will be further developed, the urbanization rate of permanent population has increased more than 5 percentage points, continue to promote the integrated development, and initially build the Blue Bay urban cluster with a beautiful ecological environment, dynamic economy, and higher quality of life. Specifically, the integration of Nanning with surrounding cities will be promoted, central cities such as Haikou and Zhanjiang have a strong capacity for driving the development of their surrounding areas, and the development of the big, medium and small-scale cities will be more coordinated. Speed up the development of the seaward economy, the modern green port industrial base will be built, and the supply chain collaboration with ASEAN will continue to deepen. The connectivity of infrastructure will be significantly improved, the comprehensive transportation network with the high-speed rail lines, standard rail lines, inter-city rail lines, and highways as the backbone will be more completed, and the rapid transportation corridor connecting three "Nan" will be constructed, the container throughput of Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port and Yangpu Regional International Container Hub Port in Hainan will reach 10 million and 5 million TEUs respectively, and the construction of important bulk commodity storage and transportation base in South China will be accelerated. The ecological layout of the Blue Bay will be ensured and optimized, the protection rate of natural coastlines will be increased, the rate of good coastal water quality will be stabilized at over 90%, and the overall environmental quality will rank among the top of China. Equal access to public services will be ensured, the people's quality of life will be enhanced, and the security system will be improved.

By 2035, the Beibu Gulf Urban Cluster will be constructed as a world-class quality Blue Bay urban cluster with regional influence.

3. OPTIMIZE THE SPATIAL LAYOUT OF THE URBAN CLUSTER

Adhere to the integration of land and sea, regional protection, and focus on the development of the key areas, strengthen the spatial development and management, accelerate the building of a spatial layout in which development and protection are coordinated, and cities and ports support each other, corridor and ports promote each other as well.

Strengthen spatial zoning management. Build an integrated land-sea territorial development and conservation pattern, create orderly and science-based strategies for agricultural, ecological, urban, and other functional areas based on the resource and environmental capacity and suitability assessment for the development of territorial space, and draw up a clear line for ecological conservation, designating permanent basic cropland and demarcate the boundaries of urban development.

Conserve "One Bay". For the coastal area and offshore waters around the Beibu Gulf supported by Beihai, Zhanjiang, Haikou, and other cities, adhere to deliver the point-like planning layout of cities, ports, and parks, expand the natural coastline carefully, and restore and conserve the offshore waters. Strengthen the ecological conservation and restoration, strictly draw up a ecological conservation line for offshore waters and prohibit encroachment and destruction. Orderly promote the layout planning of cities and towns, the development of coastal areas, the construction of ports, and the development of industries, and build a beautiful blue bay for people to work and live.

Build "Two Axes". For the coastal area and offshore waters around the Beibu Gulf supported by Beihai, Zhanjiang, Haikou, and other cities, adhere to deliver the point-like planning layout of cities, ports, and parks, expand the natural coastline carefully, and restore and conserve the offshore waters. Strengthen the ecological conservation and restoration, strictly draw up an ecological conservation line for offshore waters and prohibit encroachment and destruction. Orderly promote the layout planning of cities and towns, the development of coastal areas, the construction of ports, and the development of industries, and build a beautiful blue bay for people to work and live.

Reinforce "One Core and One Circle". Enhance the development function of Nanning while promoting the agglomeration of high-end factors, strengthen the functions in terms of international cooperation, financial service, information exchange, innovation and entrepreneurship, etc. Foster and develop several modern metropolitan circles, encouraging Nanning to highly integrate with surrounding cities such as Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, and Beihai for the effective traffic connection within the metropolitan circles. Besides, promote the cooperation between industrial parks and research platforms and resource sharing in education and healthcare, and becomes an important carrier and powerful driver for the high-quality development of the Beibu Gulf urban cluster.

Promote "Two Poles" and node cities. Highlight the gateway function of the provincial capital city of Haikou, leverage the advantage of the traditional major port of Zhanjiang to advance the coordinated development of towns, ports and industries in Zhanjiang and Maoming, give full play to the transport connection of Beihai, Yulin, Yangjiang and other node cities to build modern manufacturing bases, commercial logistics centers, and regional special service centers, support the border cities such as Dongxing, Pingxiang, etc. to actively develop the port economy and characteristic cultural tourism relying on the key development opening-up pilot zones and border economic cooperation zones.

Promote the "Townization" with the county as the important carrier. Accelerate the development of Hengzhou, Dongxing, Yangchun, Chengmai, and other construction demonstration counties, support Leizhou, Lianjiag, Gaozhou, and other conditional counties to fill the gaps, strengthen the infrastructure connection between counties and prefecture-level cities or districts, encourage the public service to channel down, and enhance the population and economic carrying capacity. Develop small towns according to reality, carry out the pilot demonstration action for border small towns and build several central towns for revitalizing the border and enriching the people. Consolidate and expand the achievement of poverty alleviation and effectively integrate with rural revitalization strategy, and stress the construction of new Townization for large-scale relocation areas.

Source:

<https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/tz/202204/P020220413606025490548.pdf>

<http://english.www.gov.cn/policies/latestreleases/202203/23/content_WS623ae22cc6d02e53353282d0.html>

<https://govt.chinadaily.com.cn/index/specials/beibugulf2019>

Edited and translated by Guo Xinxin