Unlike many books which have been written on China, this volume enjoys the benefits of being edited by a person with hands-on knowledge of the topic of discussion. The book discusses the development of a unique process of regional economic co-operation in Southern China. Y. M. Yeung participated in the early discussions on the Pan-PRD and represented Hong Kong in the annual Pan-PRD forums between 2004 and 2007. This affords the book unique credibility, standing in contrast to the historical problem of data accuracy in China.
The Pan-PRD was established in June 2004 with the agreement of 11 provincial and SARs leaders (Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hainan, Hong Kong and Macau) to join efforts in promoting regional economic growth.
The Pan-PRD is an interesting case for several reasons. First, the regional grouping has significant impact on the Chinese economy; it consists of 20 per cent of China's land area, 40 per cent of its GDP and one third of China's population. Second, the Pan-PRD was not established by the central government, but was a bottom-up initiative, led by Guangdong's Provincial government. That being said, the Pan-PRD is the only regional grouping in China which received the central government's blessing. Finally, the voluntary nature of the co-operation platform shows an uncommon willingness to share information, experience and resources, which has not widely taken place elsewhere in China.
The book is rich in data and analyses the regional grouping from two perspectives. Similarly to previous books written in the Urban and Regional Development Series, the book opens with a discussion on some of the central themes of the Pan-PRD co-operation, focusing on its development in the field of infrastructure, urban development, education and population trends. It is possible that the book would have benefitted from stronger investigation of the industrial relationships in the region, which comprise an essential part of the relationships between the parties. The second part of the book provides a comprehensive discussion on economic development in each of the provinces of the Pan-PRD, with deep analyses of the historical process of economic development, the challenges faced by each of the provinces and their respective needs. This section was found to be very informative and useful in learning about the region and the Pan-PRD more specifically.
Chapters which might be of special interest for the reader include chapter five by Y. M. Yeung and Gordon Kee which discusses infrastructure and economic development, chapter eight by Shen Jianfa on population distribution and growth, chapter nine by Mingjie Sun and C. Cindy Fan on regional inequality, and selected chapters from the specific overviews on the provinces. For instance, chapter ten by Liang Guiquan, You Aiqiong and Gordon Kee is a fascinating document on the history of economic development in Guangdong, its current challenges and future prospects for growth.
Importantly, the book is written from an historical perspective. Not only does it explore the historical roots for co-operation (for instance in the second chapter by Lau Yee-cheung), but it examines the prospects for successful co-operation in the future and the challenges the participants face in strengthening the regional economy. These challenges can teach us not only about the potential for success for the Pan-PRD, but also about the relationships among provinces in China and between the provinces and the central government. First, Zhang Li (chapter three) argues that limited actual support from the central government threatens the prospects for successful co-operation in the future. Second, the very same inequalities between provinces which have provided fertile ground for co-operation (discussed in chapter nine) might become barriers with increasing competition and unequal power relations. Finally, the book strengthens the notion that although much work has been done in the fields of infrastructure construction, labour mobility, industrial transfer and so forth, there is a long way to go before the region can be spoken of in terms of regional economic integration.
