Sun Faping

Sun Faping

(Vice President, Qinghai Academy of Social Sciences)

Author

Sun Faping is Researcher and Vice President at the Qinghai Academy of Social Sciences, and a recipient of the State Council special allowance. Sun teaches and studies the market economy and regional economics, and he has authored, co-authored, and edited more than 10 books and 80 articles, in addition to completing more than 30 research projects. Sun's published works: Research on the Ecological Value and Compensation Mechanism of China's Three River Sources Area; Four Developments: Creating a New Model When Qinghai Pursues a Scientific Outlook on Development; Transforming Qinghai's Economic Development Paths; Cyclic Economy Theory and Practice—With Qaidam Basin Cyclic Economic Pilot Zone as an Example. Sun is a winner of three first prizes, two second prizes and five third prizes at the Qinghai Philosophy and Social Science Awards; and his research reports have won three first prizes, three second prizes, and two third prizes.

Abstract

1. Qinghai's vital status and role in the exchanges between ancient China and the West. Qinghai was a stop on the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road, a major channel from central China to Tibet, western China and south Asia, a main route on the ancient Silk Road, and an important juncture and hub for the trade and cultural exchanges between East and West.

2. The comparative advantage of Qinghai in building the Silk Road Economic Belt. Located in the center of northwestern China, Qinghai enjoys outstanding geographical location, well-developed transportation network, rapidly developing industries, and promising prospect for resource and energy cooperation, all of which become vital strategic support in building the new Silk Road. Qinghai is an important mineral resource platform and a strategic base for energy exploitation and cooperation, and an ecological safe shield in building the "Beautiful China". It bridges the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and central and south Asia, and it is also a stronghold in maintaining the nation's unity and combating separatism.

3. The strategic orientation of Qinghai in building the Silk Road Economic Belt. Qinghai should seize the opportunity, conduct proactive communications to enhance cooperation with countries and regions along the Belt, establish exchange and cooperation platforms and mutually beneficial mechanism, ramp up its level of opening up, and strengthen its transportation, resources, ecology, culture and security strategies, in order to make the Silk Road Economic Belt a new impetus in the province's opening to the west and promoting the provincial economic development.

4. Suggestions on Qinghai's part in building the Silk Road Economic Belt. First, to conduct the top-level design and planning from a strategic level. Second, to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Good-Neighborly and Friendly Cooperation Committee, and expand its communication with Central Asian countries. Third, to further promote transportation construction to enhance its role of being a strategic channel. Fourth, to accelerate the integration between eastern Qinghai city clusters and western Qinghai rural areas. Fifth, to readjust the province's economic structure, and improve its trade, logistics, and other support systems. Sixth, to develop Qinghai's historical and cultural resources along the Belt, and strengthen regional cultural and tourism cooperation.