Sheng Yi

(Vice President, Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences)

Author

Sheng Yi is Vice President and Researcher at the Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences (SASS). He holds a master’s degree in economics. Sheng started his career in Neijiang City of Sichuan Province in 1975, and went on to work in SASS in 1988, primarily engaged in industrial and regional economic research. Sheng has more than 200 published papers and has authored five books. Sheng has also managed five projects funded by the National Social Science Fund, and has won six awards above the provincial level. He has been a recipient of the State Council special allowance, being a scholastic leader in Sichuan Province, and acts as a consultant to provincial policymakers.

Abstract

The middle part of the Silk Road Economic Belt includes northwestern China, Central Asian countries, and their closely-adjacent places – South Asia, West Asia and some Southeastern Asian countries. They are all relatively less developed compared with the rest of the region along the belt, with low individual income, low-level resources processing, backward infrastructure, few science and technology talents, and low level of openness. To change the status quo of this region, we need to focus on some particular areas with relatively good conditions and accelerate their development in accordance with the overall planning for the Silk Road Economic Belt, so as to lead the development of the entire region. Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone is an important birthplace of the north-south Silk Road Economic Belt in ancient time. We should make use of its strong economic strength, high industrial level, large amount of science and technology talents, and geographical advantage of linking the north-south Silk Road economic belt, to strengthen its function in the manufacturing industry, transportation, science and education, culture, finance, logistics industry, system and mechanism. It has the potential to be a strategic support bridging the northern belt which extends to Central Asia, Russia and Europe and the southern belt which extends to Southeast Asia and South Asia.