Zhao Chen

Written by distinguished Chinese academics, this book provides a unique and rare insight into the development of the modern Chinese economy.The authors identify three major factors in the growth of the Chinese economy: economic decentralization and political centralization; the urban-rural divide; and relational society. These are explored in depth via analyses of factors including urban and rural economic development and their political and social foundations, industrial agglomeration, transitions of public services and governmental responsibilities towards them and developmental imbalances and mechanisms. It is illustrated that whilst contemporary China has obviously made great economic strides, a wide variety of problems are accumulating over time. The book concludes that following three decades of high economic growth, China now faces great challenges for sustainable growth, and the institutions of China's economy have reached a critical point. Strategies for dealing with these challenges and requirements for the successful future development of China are thus prescribed.This fascinating book will provide a stimulating read for scholars, students and researchers in the fields of Asian studies, economics and development.Contents: 1. Introduction: The Reform and Opening-up of a Large, Developing Country 2. Political and Social Foundations of Economic Development 3. Urban and Rural Economic Development During the Process of Urbanization and Industrialization 4. Industrial Agglomeration in the Process of Globalization and Regional Economic Development 5. Transitions of Public Services and Government Responsibilities During the Marketization Process 6. Developmental Imbalances and Mechanisms for Improving the Market System 7. Appropriate Institutions and Sustainable Growth: China's Development and its Worldwide Significance References Index

Known as the “beating heart” of the Arab World, Syria has held high geographic and political importance in the Middle East and has been the battlefield of superpowers for centuries. Since the outbreak of the “Arab Spring,” its central role has been reinforced by its civil war, one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts since World War II, causing significant humanitarian disaster. With American power diminishing and European power in the region emerging, Europe has begun to exert its impact on Syria, and this book analyzes the diplomatic policies of European countries on Syria from the perspective of Chinese scholars. Starting with a review of the European Union’s policies in the Middle East and North Africa as a whole, the authors analyze the Syrian policies of France, the United Kingdom and Germany, the three most influential and representative countries on the European continent. The authors argue that the favoured “humanitarian intervention” concept failed to achieve the expected results, increased the bloodiness of the Syrian civil war and undermined the European Union’s advantage in the region. Researchers and students of international relations as well as Middle East Studies will benefit from this volume.

Known as the “beating heart” of the Arab World, Syria has held high geographic and political importance in the Middle East and has been the battlefield of superpowers for centuries. Since the outbreak of the “Arab Spring,” its central role has been reinforced by its civil war, one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts since World War II, causing significant humanitarian disaster. With American power diminishing and European power in the region emerging, Europe has begun to exert its impact on Syria, and this book analyzes the diplomatic policies of European countries on Syria from the perspective of Chinese scholars. Starting with a review of the European Union’s policies in the Middle East and North Africa as a whole, the authors analyze the Syrian policies of France, the United Kingdom and Germany, the three most influential and representative countries on the European continent. The authors argue that the favoured “humanitarian intervention” concept failed to achieve the expected results, increased the bloodiness of the Syrian civil war and undermined the European Union’s advantage in the region. Researchers and students of international relations as well as Middle East Studies will benefit from this volume.

This reference manual provides a list of approximately 300 technical terms and phrases common to environmental and civil engineering which non-English speakers often find difficult to understand in English. The manual provides the terms and phrases in alphabetical order, followed by a concise English definition, then a translation of the term in Mandarin and, finally, and interpretation or translation of the term or phrase in Mandarin. Following the Mandarin translations section, the columns are reverse and reordered alphabetically in Mandarin with the English term and translation following the Mandarin term or phrase. The objective is to provide a technical term reference manual for non-English speaking students and engineers who are familiar with Mandarin, but uncomfortable with English and to provide a similar reference for English speaking students and engineers working in an area of the world where the Mandarin language predominates.

This book explains the relationships between equality and efficiency, as well as between government and market, in urban-rural and regional development by providing theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence. Urban-rural development in China is understood from a regional perspective, while the core issue of urban-rural and regional development is cross-regional resource reallocation driven by the trends of globalization, marketization and urbanization and their influence on growth and inequality. The book puts forward the following arguments: An urban-rural and regional balance should not be achieved by limiting agglomeration effects in eastern regions. For some time now, China has lacked a suitable mechanism to enable residents in underdeveloped and rural areas to share in the achievements of economic agglomeration. As a result, China should not slow down economic agglomeration and development in eastern regions simply by depending on administrative means to balance urban-rural and regional development. In the final analysis, arriving at a regional balance depends on growth in the eastern regions, provided a reasonable mechanism is implemented to enable inland areas to share in the development achievements of eastern regions. In turn, finding an urban-regional balance rests on urban development, as long as more rural workers can move to and prosper in cities.

This book explains the relationships between equality and efficiency, as well as between government and market, in urban-rural and regional development by providing theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence. Urban-rural development in China is understood from a regional perspective, while the core issue of urban-rural and regional development is cross-regional resource reallocation driven by the trends of globalization, marketization and urbanization and their influence on growth and inequality. The book puts forward the following arguments: An urban-rural and regional balance should not be achieved by limiting agglomeration effects in eastern regions. For some time now, China has lacked a suitable mechanism to enable residents in underdeveloped and rural areas to share in the achievements of economic agglomeration. As a result, China should not slow down economic agglomeration and development in eastern regions simply by depending on administrative means to balance urban-rural and regional development. In the final analysis, arriving at a regional balance depends on growth in the eastern regions, provided a reasonable mechanism is implemented to enable inland areas to share in the development achievements of eastern regions. In turn, finding an urban-regional balance rests on urban development, as long as more rural workers can move to and prosper in cities.