By KONG Ailing (Ms) and XIE Zuozheng

1. How urban statistics contribute to economic development in Pearl River Delta and some existing deficiencies By KONG Ailing (Ms) and XIE Zuozheng Survey Office in Shenzhen National Bureau of Statistics of China

2. Main Contents I. Introduction to Pearl River Delta II. Urban Statistical Cooperation -- its main forms andcontents III. Main contribution of urban statistics to Pearl River Delta economic development IV. Issues for discussion

3. I. Introduction to Pearl River Delta • Pearl River Delta is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao. In the region, there are nine big and medium-sized cities • 10% of whole country GDP in 2006 • The industrial structure of the region has obviously improved • Urbanization has achieved a much higher level than the whole country • Convenient and fast communication networks have basically been developed

4. II. Urban Statistical Cooperation -- its main forms and contents • The nine cities in a mutual-driven and competing situation. Differentiation and irreplaceability becoming obvious. They needed cooperation and reached an agreement in 1996. • Urban statistics in China: statistical systems in municipal governments as core, with supplements from the statistical systems in functional departments, industry associations and non-government sector. • Moreover, urban government statistical service comprisesthe survey offices of NBS outposted in relevant cities and the municipal government statistical bureaux.

5. II. Urban Statistical Cooperation -- its main forms and contents (a)Periodic exchange of agreed statistical data: - include rural economy, industrial economy, finance, trade, tourism, consumer price etc. - over 100 statistical indicators and also other data on social development and environmental ecology monitoring (b) Annual periodic thematic seminar hosted by different cities on rotation: 1. to summarise experience from urban statistical work reform and development 2. to explore deficiencies in the practical work of urban statistics 3. to study how to improve the exchange system of statistical data 4. to study how to serve economic development in respect of current hot issues

6. III. Main contribution of urban statistics to Pearl River Delta economic development • Change from aiming at economic growth rate to economic effectiveness • Through statistical data exchange and cooperation, relevant statistics have been enhanced with improved measure of the economic growth rate • Example: Shenzhen – government decision-makers adopted the data monitoring and analysis advice from statistical department and prepared the policy of transition from “Fast Shenzhen” to “Efficient Shenzhen”

7. III. Main contribution of urban statistics to Pearl River Delta economic development • (ii) Change from aiming at gross output to aiming at industrial structure optimization • Carried out comparative industrial structure analysis and research • The industrial structure of Pearl River Delta has become more and more reasonable and reached to the level of countries in the mid class of per capital income

8. III. Main contribution of urban statistics to Pearl River Delta economic development • (iii)Change from focusing at city ranking to characteristic urban development • Urban statistics provide guiding information for establishing the strategy and goals for characteristic urban development • From 1996 to 2006, the 9 cities have blazed a unique path for development • Guangzhou and Shenzhen: the first category of cities that led economy development • Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Huizhou:got hold of opportunities from the industry transformation of Guangzhou and Shenzhen • Zhaoqing and Zhuhai: the third category of cities with fairly fast economic growth Gross production value of the 9 cities in Pearl River Delta from 1996 to 2006 RMB 100 million yuan Guangzhou Shenzhen Foshan Jiangmen Zhaoqing Huizhou Dongguan Zhuhai Zhongshan GDP in 1996 GDP in 2006

9. III. Main contribution of urban statistics to Pearl River Delta economic development • (iv) Change from focusing on urbanization level to urban living standard • Since 1996, the nine cities in Pearl River Delta had begun urban data exchange. • While stressing urbanization development, all cities have since paid much attention to increasing urban living standard, including: (i) city’s infrastructure construction has been developing rapidly (ii) urban living standard has been raised; urban living standard in Pearl River Delta in 2006 was rather close to the well-off goal (iii) social security level has been raised, which has received more attention from governments of various cities

10. III. Main contribution of urban statistics to Pearl River Delta economic development

11. III. Main contribution of urban statistics to Pearl River Delta economic development • (v) Change from urban area expansion to intensified land use • The condition of urban intensified land use in Pearl River Delta is evaluated from four levels of input, output, economic benefit and sustainability • Objective data on land use efficiency are provided to government decision-making departments • Disparity can thebe identified for remedial follow up by comparing data of the nine cities

12. IV. Issues for discussion • The impact of unbalanced development among cities on the statistical information exchange system • Information exchange between government statistical department and functional department needs to be strengthened further • Form and method of statistical information should keep pace with time • Research intostatistical method and system reform

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