Yinchuan 3 to 1

By Eric Balan

"Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your own self."

 

Due to the development of global integration and economic globalization, economic cooperation and exchanges between cities, regions, and countries have become increasingly strong. Economic development, cross-cultural communications, and international business activities between people of different cultural backgrounds are becoming more frequent. In order to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the analyses carried out in this book is on the economic impact on the development of Yinchuan, and it takes a deeper look into the development prospects of the city and its future. Yinchuan was once the economic and social centre for culture and trade, the city should revive its prominence again in the new age of economic and social exchanges.

 

#yinchuan1st2030

 

Eric Balan is a development economist and a visiting scholar who has spent one year researching on Yinchuan's economic and social development improvements. The city became an interest to him while he was writing another manuscript titled "China-Central Asia Economic Corridor: How Would It Work?" Yinchuan is situated midway on the Belt and Road that leads China into the far west. This book is an important piece that fits into the upcoming work. He taught China's Macroeconomics at the North Minzu University in Yinchuan. Presently, his research work continues with China and its various engagements with the world.    

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eric Balan
• Release date: Jul 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393852506

Eric Balan

Dr Eric Balan is an academician and a researcher in the field of International Economics and Global Strategic Management. His primary work centres around the development and progress of China's Belt and Road Initiatives. He has authored and published two books on the subject of city development and economic efficiencies. He founded the Belt and Road Development Associates that publishes commentaries beyond the politics and the economics of the Belt and Road. He was a visiting researcher to China focusing on the development work of the China-Central Asia Economic Corridor. Dr Eric has published in numerous international journals and is currently undertaking research studies on China’s influence on the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership).

Book preview

A PUBLICATION WITH

SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

DISCLAIMER

The accounts of this book are solely based on personal experience. The methodologies in creating this book follows a series of numerous observations, countless engagements in meaningful and distinctive conversations, and through the assembly of secondary data. The analyses discussed in various parts of the book is in no way a reflection of the country, but it is the implication, realization, understanding, and its impact towards Yinchuan. The content of the book is in no order and are purely the insights of the realities from the perspective of the author and from the adopted methodologies. The content and spirit of this book has been spoken many times and now it is localized to the context of Yinchuan. This book is intended in good gesture towards the development of Yinchuan. The author had resided in the city for the period of 2018-2019 and in gratitude for the opportunity, experience, and hospitality shown, this book is a note of warm appreciation.    

The process of creating this book faced many challenges. First, there was no way to verify all the economic figures. These were data collected from various sources and there was no coherence. In making the data worthy for this book, it had to be generalized and normalized. Second, the conversations carried out were recorded based on the general public’s opinion and their understanding. Many were reluctant to participate and those who did shared the best of their knowledge. Language was another problem in communications and deciphering meaning. Third, all the observations were carried out in the visits made throughout the inner and outer city. The time that the observations were made may not be in sync with the course of developments that are currently undergoing. Therefore, parts of this book were based on the past. Inaccuracy may occur.

This book took 8 months to research and 4 months to write. Each chapter begins with a quotation extracted from the Baha’i writings pertaining to the context of that chapter. This book is best to be read in the spirit of development and not in the details of the figures. There are indeed limitations to this book, and it does not cover the full spectrum of development economics. However, this book managed to capture the essence and vital points suggesting to the growth aspect of Yinchuan.

Development and prosperity are roads towards peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit in building a community towards a shared future

-  President Xi Jinping

Introduction

The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.

DUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT of global integration and economic globalization, economic cooperation and exchanges between cities, regions, and countries have become increasingly strong. Economic development, cross cultural communication, and international business activities between people of different cultural backgrounds are also becoming more frequent. It is particularly important to enhance economic understanding, overcome cultural conflicts, and enhance communication and cooperation. In recent years, China's economy has flourished, and the Chinese culture has become more and more profound, attracting more and more foreign friends to study, work, invest, and travel in China. In 2018, it was the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. In the past 60 years, under the astute leadership of the Party Central Committee, people of all ethnic groups have strived to achieve economic prosperity and build a comprehensive well-off society.

At the same time, with the deepening of reform and opening up, and the acceleration of urbanization, Ningxia has continued to develop and prosper. The total population together with its inflow of migrants are steadily growing. Yinchuan, the capital city, is the political, economic, and cultural centre of the Hui Autonomous Region. Located in the centre of Huiyibao-Yinyi-Lanyiqing economic route, it is also an important commercial city along the New Asia-Europe Continental Bridge and a regional central city within a range of about 500 kilometres around Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Gansu. The unique location is an advantage that makes Yinchuan City the preferred choice for migrants and development. In order to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the analyses in this book is on the impact of economics on the development of Yinchuan, and takes a deeper look into the development prospects of the city and its future. Since the establishment of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region for 60 years, the cadres and people of Yinchuan have worked hard to promote the various economic and social undertakings in the city and in the province. Post 60 years of determination and hard work, great changes have made Yinchuan a hub of economic prosperity, social stability, and national unity. The various contributing sectors of the economy plays a significant role in promoting positive impact. Although the city is in the 3rd category of development due to its economic emphasis and production capacities and capabilities, Yinchuan has the qualities of a 1st tier city. For the transition to take place, there are fundamentals that needs immediate attention to.

First, the strengthening of its economic sectors is important for the improvement of the economic benefits for Yinchuan. On the one hand, the steady increase in the migrant (local and international) population provides enough labour and talent resources for Yinchuan's urban economic development, and they participate in all aspects of urban economic activities. It plays an important role in the development of infrastructure especially in construction, telecommunication, transportation, and manufacturing. Thus, in the long run, it becomes a powerful catalyst for the needed economic development protagonists of the city. With these migrant populations equipped with skillsets ranging from low to advanced levels in term of knowledge and technology savviness, their work  contributions and experiences will indeed become an asset to the city, and as they intersperse with the locals, the transfer of knowledge will than propel the ability of the locals for the continuation in progressing Yinchuan. The encouragement of migrant movements creates an energy that vitalizes and motivates a continuous injection into urban development. The brilliant achievements since the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and the changes experienced in Yinchuan are remarkable. At the same time, these population of skilled migrants are a new and possibly large consumer market, potentially increasing an upside on purchasing power. This will effectively stimulate domestic demand, promote the development of city-related industries, and then naturally drive the city's economy upwards.

Second, the strengthening of cross-cultural exchanges has promoted population mobility, and the strengthening of population mobility is conducive to improving the social benefits of the city. Obviously, without a stable social environment, there will be no healthy development to the city. Statistics shows that the current number of rural surplus labour in China is still in the high millions, and the source of economic income of countless rural families cannot be guaranteed. Solving the employment problem of rural surplus labour has become an urgent task for China to maintain social stability. While many do not end up in the top tiered cities, fearing competition and the high cost of living, they eventually make journey and take refuge in places like Yinchuan. While the increase in the number of cross-cultured migrants meets urban development, the need of employment is dire and inevitable. The rising inflow of these migrants can have a positive effect and their contribution are very important in building communities by resettling from the rural to Yinchuan. They also contribute in every aspect of development in the city. They bring along skillsets that can be used in low skilled employment. Eventually these rural migrants will develop into higher income workers that will then generate higher and better household expenditures. This effectively improves the social and economic benefits of the city and the interaction of various people creates a harmonious and stable social environment for Yinchuan’s city development.

Third, strengthening information exchange, not just in trade but also in the entire spectrum of life. This feed and fuels the impetus of economics and communications. Because of the economics and cultural differences, diverse values, beliefs, and customs are introduced into the process of integration and information. This mixture when used for the benefit of growth makes perpetual ripples of community vibrancies that stimulates the economy. The advantage of diverse information from diverse cultural backgrounds result in a society that is thriving, learning, tolerant, kind, loving, and understanding for others, thus building upon trust and confidence which are intangible attributes for development and progress. This will only make Yinchuan prominent and richer. Information richness are subtle elements in economic development. Mutual exchanges of information are characterized by the protagonists’ equal and just participation in the process of encoding and decoding growth. Through the means of such engagement will propel and stimulate enthusiasm of cross-cultural economics, broaden communication understanding, and disseminate good practices and experiences. Yinchuan can play a role to facilitate and encourage information interactions that will build a foundation of goodness for the city. Although information exchanges are stifled by many factors, of the likes of intelligence and exposure, but when seen as a process of learning, development and prosperity are imminent.

The process of global economic integration is accelerating. The economy is the lifeblood of a city, a region, and a country. Around the development of the economy, the exchanges between the city, province, region, and the country in politics, culture, science and technology, and trade are becoming more frequent. These interactions can be expressed as cooperation, learning, and assistance, in the making of a world filled with diverse symbiotic patterns. This is the fundamental reason why diplomacy exist and is particularly exciting. Different dwellers of a city coming together and forming a specific identity, culture, social customs, and economic practices which is entirely unique to the city. The uniqueness forms different values, thinking methods, social norms and pragmatic rules that befits for the people of the city. The potential of collaboration and cooperation can help a city be better integrated and organized for development opportunities. Economic development is an art and science. It is not static, and it is constantly evolving in with the many factors of activities. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously encourage and stimulate the progress of Yinchuan through various methods of economic growth as it only assists the city and its people to gradually become a centre to be emulated for its common values and practices. The economic development of Yinchuan can bring unlimited possibilities to the development of individuals, neighbouring cities, the province, and to China.

Chinese Economic Plan

The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.

LATE 2013, ON HIS OFFICIAL presidential tour, President Xi visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia. There, for the first time, he raised the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and it has attracted close attention globally. Premier Li Keqiang, at the 2013 China-ASEAN Expo accentuated the need to build the Maritime Silk Road oriented towards the ASEAN region. This was to create strategic propellers for hinterland development. Fast-tracking the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can aid in promoting economic prosperity and regional economic collaboration. This will then fortify exchanges and strengthen communal learning between governments and in hope to promote world peace. It is a pronounced enterprise that will benefit citizens around the world. The BRI is a systematic project, which should be cooperatively built through consultation in order to meet the interests of all, and efforts should be made to assimilate the development strategies of all participating countries with this global endeavour. Yinchuan is no exception to this plan. A dynamic global plan implemented locally. Yinchuan is an important city in the realization of the SREB especially for the North western region of China.   

It is complex yet profound. It will unquestionably change the outlook of the world. The threats and the adverse impacts from global crises are real. The fluctuation of the world economy and its recovery from shocks are slow to stagnant. Global development is uneven. International trade and investment landscapes and rules at the multilateral stage are constantly adjusted. Countries are facing cataclysmic challenges to cope with internal and external pressures of development. The BRI aims to promote multi connectivity across lands and seas of Asia, Europe, and the African continents. The vision, coming together establishing and strengthening partnerships in a multidimensional set up to stand tall and as one against global odds and predicaments. China's economy is closely associated with the world’s economy. China has pledged and will stay committed to its basic policies of opening-up, build a new frame and design of economic integration deeper into the world’s economic system, and to bring equilibrium and sustainable approaches around the globe.

The BRI is aligned to the purpose and principles of the United Nation Charter. It advocates the five principles of, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual nonaggression, mutual non-interference in internal affairs, and equality and mutual benefit. It covers, and it is not limited to, the area of the ancient Silk Road. It is open to all countries, international and regional organizations for engagement. The results of the concerted efforts will benefit the larger area. It is harmonious and