Abstract
Development zones have been an important spatial approach to promoting economic development since China’s reform and opening-up. They have also been major contributors to the processes of China’s industrialization and urbanization. Along with improvements in the worldwide industrial division of labor and the gradual implementation of China’s development zones’ Go Global strategy, it is necessary for Africa, a hot spot of global industrialization in recent years, to learn from China’s development zone model. By attracting China’s capital, technology and enterprises to Africa via Sino-African co-built development zones, a pattern of high complementarity and mutual development between China and Africa can be formed which does favor further improvement of the global industrial division of labor. In order to study the applicability and prospect of China’s development zone model in Africa as per the above-mentioned international situation, this paper first sorts out the development course of China’s development zones and discusses their roles in China’s industrialization and urbanization. Subsequently, this paper analyzes the status quo of industrial development in Africa as a whole and the differences in industrial development between China and Africa, aiming to justify the timing of industrial transfer from China to Africa by constructing Sino-African co-built development zones. Lastly, this paper analyzes the current situation of six Sino-African co-built development zones by focusing on their operation modes, industry types and investment promotion models. In the authors’ view, Sino-African co-built development zones can function as a new window of China-African cooperation, a new carrier of African industrialization, and a new engine of global industrial restructuring. China should adhere to the general principles of ‘Sino-African Integration, Multi-Cooperation, Mutual Benefit, Scientific Location, Systematic Planning, Cluster Growth and Open Development’ in the planning and construction of development zones in Africa, effectively promoting Africa as the very important part of the global industry system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alves A C, 2012. Chinese economic and trade co-operation zones in Africa: facing the challenges. South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) Policy Briefing, 51(6): 1–4.
An Chunying, 2012. An initial analysis of China’s suez economic and trade cooperation zone in Egypt. Asia & Africa Review, (4): 1–6, 58–59. (in Chinese)
Bräutigam D, Tang XY, 2011. African Shenzhen: China’s special economic zones in Africa. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 49(1): 27–54. doi: 10.1017/S0022278X10000649
Bräutigam D, 2012. The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa. Shen X L, Gao M X (Trans). Beijing: Social Science Academic Press. (in Chinese)
Davies M, 2008. China’s developmental model comes to Africa. Review of African Political Economy, 35(115): 134–137. doi: 10.1080/03056240802021450
El-Gohari A, Sutherland D, 2010. China’s special economic zones in Africa: the Egyptian case. In: Global Economic Recovery: The Role of China CEA Conference. Oxford, UK: University of Oxford, 12–13.
Farole T, 2011. Special Economic Zones in Africa: Comparing Performance and Learning from Global Experiences. Washington DC: World Bank Publications.
Feng Weijiang, Yao Zhuzhong, Feng Zhaoyi, 2012. ‘Go Out’ of China’s economic development zone: experience of China-Egypt Suez economic and trade cooperative zone. International Economic Review, (2): 153–170, 8. (in Chinese)
Guan Lixin, 2012. Comparison and Enlightenment of China’s New Overseas Industrial Parks. International Economic Cooperation, (1): 57–62. (in Chinese)
He Canfei, Guo Qi, Zou Peisi, 2013. Spatial distribution of China’s foreign direct investment: a perspective of relationship (Guanxi) between China and its Host Countries. World Regional Studies, 22(4): 1–12. (in Chinese)
He Wenping, 2014. Diversified Africa: political, security and economic development in 2013. Asia & Africa Review, (1): 12–26. (in Chinese)
Huang Meibo, Tang Luping, 2012. Establishment and challenges of Sino-African economic and trade cooperation zones. International Economic Cooperation, (6): 48–53. (in Chinese)
Kragelund P, 2009. Knocking on a wide-open door: Chinese investments in Africa. Review of African Political Economy, 36(122): 479–497. doi: 10.1080/03056240903346111
Li Changsong, 2012. Research on the Distribution and Its Influence Factors of Chinese Enterprises in Africa. Shanghai: East China Normal University. (in Chinese)
National Bureau of Statistics, 2012. China Statistical Yearbook 2011. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
Tang Xiaoyang, 2010. A brief analysis of China’s economic and trade cooperation zones in Africa. West Asia and Africa, (11): 17–22, 79. (in Chinese)
Wang Jun, Zhang Zhai, Wen Xiaoyi, 2010. The Chinese urban planning practice in Africa. Urban Planning Forum, (4): 91–98. (in Chinese)
Wang W, 2008. Development Characteristics and Cooperative Potentials of African National Economic Development Zones. Go to Africa for Development. Chengdu: Sichuan People’s Publishing House, 201–205. (in Chinese)
Wang Xingping, 2015. China’s Development Zones in Africa: A Study of Development and Planning of Sino-African Industrial Parks. Nanjing: Southeast University Press. (in Chinese)
Zhang Fei, 2013a. A study of construction mode and sustainable development of Sino-African economic and trade cooperation zones. Intertrade, (3): 34–39. (in Chinese)
Zhang Jun, 2013b. A Study of Industrial Selection of China’s Direct Investment in Africa. Beijing: China Foreign Affairs University. (in Chinese)
Zhang Zhongxiang, 2011. Sino-African economic zone: a new engine of economic cooperation between China and Africa. West Asia and Africa, (2): 59–65, 80. (in Chinese)
Zhou Ying, Chen Linli, Pan Songting, 2008. Development of oversea economic trade and cooperative zone. Journal of Xidian University (Social Science Edition), 18(15): 78–84. (in Chinese)
Acknowledgement
We hereby certify that the paper has been funded by Southeast University Town and Country Planning Provincial Advantage Discipline.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: Under the auspices of the Specific Plan for Strategic International Cooperation in Scientific and Technological Innovation, the National Key Research and Development Plan ‘Research Cooperation and Exemplary Application in Planning of Overseas Industrial Parks’ (No. 2016YFE0201000), Project of ‘Drawing the Lessons from the Experience of China’s Development Zones to African Industrialization’ (No. 15FZZX02YB)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, X., Zhu, K., Li, Y. et al. Applicability and prospect of China’s development zone model in Africa. Chin. Geogr. Sci. 27, 860–874 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-017-0918-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11769-017-0918-2