GREEN DEVELOPMENT MODES OF THE BELT AND ROAD
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2017-10-1-53-69
Abstract
A number of countries are concerned, to a certain degree, about the prospects for the implementation of the Chinese strategic initiative for the joint creation of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” (SREB). These concerns relate to fears of the transfer from China to the “belt” countries of excessive capacities of the polluting primaries industries, possible environmental degradation, and the destruction of the traditional way of life as a result of the implementation of mega-projects, and the fragility and vulnerability of many ecosystems along the routes of the prospective throughways between the eastern provinces of China and Europe [Bezrukov, 2016]. Environmental problems are clearly of key importance for the prospects of China’s initiative. The initiative’s program documents have stressed the need to take into account the interests of all parties and act solely on the basis of mutual benefit. The authors briefly consider the variety of natural and socio-economic conditions in the SREB zone and the sharp differences in the degree of economic development of the territory, which require close attention and scientific justification for political and economic decisions. Particular differences include temperature regime, precipitation, modern atmospheric circulation, transport of particulate matter and contaminants, soils, vegetation, land use, and risks of desertification in the SREB zone. The potential of complementarity of the natural resources of China and a number of neighboring countries may be realized. The paper also discusses China’s present policy in the transition to sustainable development and its underlying concepts and achievements, especially at the level of regions and cities, including the concept of “ecological civilization” and the six stages of greening of cities. The authors believe that tourism related activities should be coordinated specifically at the city level as part of “green development.” It is necessary to create free economic zones in the “economic corridors” along the planned transcontinental lines and utilize the existing national special zones. Such zones are particularly effective in border regions and cities. In conclusion, it is recommended to develop international research networks in the SREB zone, to establish an International Data Center, and to collect, organize, exchange, and publish jointly scientific information on the problems of transition to sustainable development.
About the Authors
Dong Suocheng
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
China
China
Beijing 100101, China
Doctor of Sciences, is leading professor of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science. He is the Executive Chairman and Secretary General of the International Scientists Union of the Belt and Road Initiative; member of Russia and China Ecological Council. He also serves many renowned institutions of China – Regional Ecological Economics Research and Planning Center; Resource Economics Research Center; Committee of Regional Ecological Economics; Committee of Resource Economics Research of China Natural Resources Society; Tourism Research and Planning & Design Center, IGSNRR, CAS. He is vice president of Chinese Society of Ecological Economics; member of Green Industry Expert Committee of China, UNIDO. He focuses on theory and practice of regional eco-economics and resource economics, and put forth the ecological civilization construction modes, Chinese characteristic circular economy modes, eco-city modes and comprehensive tourism modes, which are widely implemented in many areas of China. He presided over more than 90 key research projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China, international cooperation, key research programs of the ministries and local governments, and obtained more than 14 awards. Nine important advisory reports wrote by professor Dong were adopted by the office of the State Council, which provided important scientific and technological supports for national socio-economic development decision making. He also dedicates to promote international cooperation among China, Russia and Mongolia. He is now in charge of the state key project of multi-disciplinary Scientific Expedition of Russia-Mongolia-China international economic corridor funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of P.R. China, from 2016 to 2021. He is the author of over 300 academic papers and books
V. Kolosov
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
DSc. in Geography, Professor, Deputy Director (the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences), Head of the Department of Geography of World Economy (the Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University), and Past President of the International Geographical Union. The main areas of expertise include political geography, geopolitics, social geography, and geography of cities. He taught and conducted scientific research in the universities of France, Finland, England, the USA, Belgium, and the Netherlands. He is the author of more than 350 scientific publications, head or coordinator of the Russian part of scientific projects supported by Russian foundations, European framework programs, the French Research Agency, etc. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal “Regional Research of Russia” (together with V.M. Kotlyakov)
Li Yu
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
China
China
Beijing 100101, China
associate professor and master’s supervisor at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also Secretary General of Regional Ecological Economics Committee of China Society for Ecological Economics. He was respectively honored with the awards of China Society of Natural Resources, Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources and Hebei Province. In recent years, he published more than 30 papers, and was the leading author of four important consulting reports for the government on regional sustainable development
Li Zehong
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
China
China
Beijing 100101, China
associate professor and master supervisor from Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS. He also is the Secretary-General of resources economy research committee of China’s Society of natural resources and the Deputy Secretary General of the International Conference on Eco-environment and Sustainable Development of Silk Road Economy Zone. His mainly academy direction is in regional ecological economic system analysis and resource economics research. He has participated in and finished more than 20 research projects including national science and technology basic special project, National Natural Science Foundation Project and regional cooperation projects. He has published more than 50 papers
Li Fujia
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
China
China
Beijing 100101, China
associate professor of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS and the postdoctor of Tsinghua University. The main research fields include regional ecological economics, resource economics and circular economics. He has presided or participated in more than 30 scientific research projects, including national, provincial, Chinese academy of sciences and local cooperation projects, and published more than 20 academic theses in many academic journals such as ‘Ecological Modeling’, ‘Energy Policy’ and ‘Chinese Geography Science’
Zhao Minyan
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Southwest Forestry University
China
China
Beijing 100101, China
Kunming 650224, China
Ph.D. candidate of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences and an associate professor of Faculty of Ecotourism, Southwest Forestry University. Her research focuses on regional ecological economy, environmental interpretation and ecotourism. She is the first Chinese person certified as Interpretive Trainer of the National Association for Interpretation, USA. She had published 40 papers and participated in more than and 20 research projects
Shi Guangyi
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
China
China
Beijing 100101, China
PhD., is a senior engineer, senior think-tank experts of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on world resources and regional problems
Yu Huilu
Ludong University
China
China
Yantai 264025, China
PHD, is lecturer of College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Ludong University. He had taught at Institute of Geography and Planning, Ludong University from 2003 to 2013. He has been a PhD graduate of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences from August 2013 until now. His major research efforts focus on regional ecological economics. He has published more than 30 papers, participated in and finished more than 10 research projects including national science and technology basic special project, National Natural Science Foundation Project and regional cooperation projects
Cheng Hao
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
China
China
Beijing 100101, China
post doctoral student of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, National urban planner. Her main research field is Regional Ecological Economics. She has presided or participated in more than 30 scenic areas and industry parks planning. As a major participant, Cheng Hao has taken part in many research projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Science Foundation Special Projects, International Cooperation Projects, Provincial or Ministerial Scientific Research. She has won 3 national awards and 2 provincial awards, and won the Youth Best Paper Award of Academic Annual Conference of China Society of Natural Resources in 2015. She published 20 papers indexed by SCI, EI and CSCD
Guo Peng
China National Tourism Administration
China
China
Beijing 100740, China
works at the Publicity Division, China National Tourism Administration. He mainly studies tourism development and regional ecological economics
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Review
For citations:
Suocheng D., Kolosov V., Yu L., Zehong L., Fujia L., Minyan Zh., Guangyi Sh., Huilu Yu., Hao Ch., Peng G. GREEN DEVELOPMENT MODES OF THE BELT AND ROAD. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2017;10(1):53-69. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2017-10-1-53-69
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