The Bo-Tai Line: Establishing the concepts of a balanced regional development line and a national development backbone

Abstract

Promoting regional coordinated development strategy is one of the important strategies in the new period of China. Faced with the reality of unbalanced and insufficient regional development in China, it is objectively necessary to construct one or more main axes supporting the coordinated and balanced development of regions to become the identification line representing the pattern of coordinated regional development. The results show that the Bo-Tai line, the northwest-southeast axis connecting Bole of Xinjiang and Taipei of Taiwan, can be built into national development backbone line and regional balanced development line, just perpendicular to Hu Line. In 2016, the area of southwest half and northeast half of Bo-Tai Line accounts for 60%: 40%, while the population accounts for 45%: 55%, the economic aggregate accounts for 40%: 60%, the per capita GDP ratio accounts for 44%: 56%, the population density ratio accounts for 38%: 62%, the economic density ratio accounts for 32%: 68%, and the urbanization level ratio accounts for 48%: 52%. The main average indicators are gradually tending to balanced development pattern. Further analysis shows that Bo-Tai Line is a strategic shoulder pole connecting two core zones of “the Belt and Road”, and is the peaceful reunification line of China’s national tranquility and Taiwan’s return. Bo-Tai Line is also a solid line supported and connected by comprehensive transportation channels and a Pipa type symmetrical line for the development of cities and urban agglomerations. It is the backbone of the two-way opening up and the linkage development line between land and sea. It is also an important dividing line that promotes the coordinated development of the eastern, central and western regions, and addresses the imbalance and inadequacy of regional development. Bo-Tai Line plays an irreplaceable strategic role in promoting the coordinated and balanced regional development. It is suggested that the construction of Bo-Tai Line should be included in the national development strategy, and the development strategic plan of Bo-Tai Line should be formulated to fully release the multiple potential functions. We should build three strategic support points: the northwest endpoint, the central strategic node and the southeast endpoint; carry out a comprehensive scientific investigation of the Bo-Tai Line, and strengthen the scientific cognition and publicity; promote China’s development in a higherlevel, higher-quality, more coordinated, safer and more civilized direction. Let Chinese know about the Bo-Tai Line, let the world know about the Bo-Tai Line, and let the Bo-Tai Line truly become the backbone of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.