City Development and Internationalization in China

“Using in-depth research on particular cities, this book breaks ground by demonstrating that China has developed rapidly through a myriad of influences by stakeholders.”—Rajah Rasiah, Distinguished Professor of Economics, University of Malaya, Malaysia

 “Grounded on empirical case studies, this book is a must-read that narrates the role of culture, historical legacy, and interventionist government in developing the different regions in China.”—Li Yurui, Professor of Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

This book explores how history shapes city development, assesses the role of government at national and sub-national levels through case studies of three secondary cities, Quanzhou, Yiwu and Nannin, and provides a link between city evelopment and internationalization. In doing so, the book highlights alternative paths to development and internationalization that have received little attention in mainstream discussions.

 The case studies in the book provide insights into the development and internationalization of cities, linking them to historical, social, institutional and economic factors—narratives that bridge the two themes of city development and internationalization. Strong analyses are accompanied by photographs and charts that allow the reader to learn about Chinese cities beyond the major urban areas in China, garner better understanding of the role of the Chinese state, and appreciate the relevance of “city-specific assets” for city planning.

Qianyi Wang is a lecturer at the Economic School of Shandong Technology and Business University, China. Her research focuses on urban-rural coordinated development and urban studies from local stakeholders’ perspectives.

Kee Cheok Cheong is currently Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya, Malaysia. His research interests include economic development, transition economies, particularly China and Vietnam, and international economic relations.
 Ran Li is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya, Malaysia. Her specialization is in the transformation of China’s state enterprises, state enterprise system and China’s political-economic system.