How Can Characteristic Towns Improve Development Quality
Interlocutors:
He Dingding, People's Daily commentator
Zhang Yonggui, Zhejiang Daily commentator
He Dingding: "Characteristic towns" is absolutely a buzzword in Zhejiang. Among the first batch of China's characteristic towns, Zhejiang ranked first in number; Zhejiang itself has also launched two batches totaling 79 characteristic towns. A little research makes it clear that "cluster" and "characteristic" have in fact always been Zhejiang's hallmarks. Over more than 30 years of block-based economy and regional characteristic industries, differentiated development has been remarkable; more than 300 listed companies are leading enterprises in various industries. It can be said that the skeleton of "characteristic" has always been there. From a strategic perspective, where exactly does the "characteristic" of characteristic towns lie?
Zhang Yonggui: Adapting to and leading the new normal of the economy is the greatest original aspiration of Zhejiang's development of characteristic towns. The competitiveness of the traditional block-based economy and regional characteristic industries is declining, and characteristic towns are precisely meant to break through this problem, enabling "Made in Zhejiang" to climb toward both ends of the "smile curve," solving the problem of insufficient supply, cultivating new momentum for future development, and also forming a complete ecosystem in such aspects as industry, environment, culture and government affairs. At the same time, they gather high-end elements such as entrepreneurs, venture capital and incubators, strengthen supporting living functions, and become open and shared new-type mass innovation spaces.
He Dingding: Looking closely, there is still a slight difference between characteristic towns at the national level and those in Zhejiang. The former are towns, while the latter are actually not towns, but industrial development areas strictly limited to about 3 sq km. However, the definitions may differ, but the core is still the same: "characteristic" must be highlighted.
Zhang Yonggui: Characteristic is the DNA of a town, and the key is to identify the characteristic, highlight the characteristic and amplify the characteristic. In Zhejiang's view, since characteristic towns are to be developed, they must pursue being "special and strong," focusing on the characteristic industries with the strongest foundation and greatest advantages, and must not be identical in a hundred towns or engage in homogeneous competition; they must implement "clustering and integration," rejecting large hodgepodges, and integrate development around a cultural core to make people's eyes light up; they must also emphasize being "refined and beautiful," achieving one style for each town and creating "high aesthetic value"; in addition, they must be "vibrant and new," respecting market laws, giving play to the role of market entities, with the government mainly building platforms and providing services.
He Dingding: In other words, without good industrial development, the town will be hollow.
Zhang Yonggui: Exactly. Industry comes first. Without industry to serve as the beams and pillars, developing characteristic towns is no different from climbing a tree to look for fish or striking ice to seek fire. The industries of characteristic towns must have the strongest foundation, the most distinctive features and the greatest potential, such as information economy, environmental protection, health, tourism, fashion, finance and high-end equipment, which are also the "first echelon" of Zhejiang's future economic development. Only in this way can characteristic towns become a new engine for expanding effective investment, a new model for improving development quality, a new stage for "mass entrepreneurship and innovation," and a new carrier for the transformation and development of traditional industries.
He Dingding: From the very beginning when characteristic towns were proposed, there was a "negative list," the most critical point of which is: characteristic towns should not come out by pressing the "copy key." It is not a matter of changing signboards, nor the result of rigid planning, but rather a guided incubation. Once the government takes everything into its own hands and blindly builds towns, it will not only lead to a waste of resources, but also create huge room for rent-seeking, and good intentions will also produce bad results.
Zhang Yonggui: Indeed, with the cake right in front of them, there are always people hoping to take a bite. Fortunately, not just anyone can take a bite. Zhejiang has a rigorous and complete evaluation system for creating characteristic towns. For example, "easy entry and strict approval," adhering to "strict conditions and selection of the best"; no fixed quotas, publishing a batch once mature, eliminating "wearing new shoes to walk the old road"; it also rejects balancing across the board. Of Zhejiang's 11 prefecture-level cities, not every region has one; there is no division by field, and the main thing is to look at a town's soft and hard strength. As long as it can become an outstanding performer in an industry, it has hope.
He Dingding: Characteristic towns can actually be understood as a high-quality complex of production and living. In developing towns, industry and capital are indispensable, but the most critical factor is still "people." If the rise of Hangzhou's Shannan Fund Town and Dream Town, due to their locational advantages, makes it easier to attract talent, then will places with poorer initial conditions face development difficulties?
Zhang Yonggui: Human effort can accomplish anything. Take Dream Town as an example. At the beginning, there were not that many people either. In order to "build the nest to attract the phoenix," the government implemented customized services and considerate management, built a youth entrepreneurship community, and attracted a large number of quasi-university-student groups. Now, there are quite a few young entrepreneurs who have dreams, passion and creativity, but no capital, no experience and no support. If one truly has the heart to build platforms for them and provide attractive beautiful scenery, a livable environment and an entrepreneurial atmosphere, why worry that they will not come? I believe that in the not-too-distant future, working and living in a characteristic town will certainly be an enviable state of existence.