Nationally, coordinated development means comprehensive regional initiatives integrating multiple provinces and cities, such as the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei province urbanized region. Internationally, coordinated development means the Belt and Road Initiative, involving more than 60 countries in infrastructure development.

In examining the Five Major Development Concepts for my weekly show, Closer to China with R.L. Kuhn, on CCTV News (Sundays 9:30 am and 9:30 pm), I learned that a national example of coordinated development is the city of Luzhou in southwestern China's Sichuan province. I wanted to find out why.

Located at the intersection between Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, Luzhou was traditionally a marginal area. I met Luzhou Mayor Liu Qiang, who explained how the city has been transformed from a center for producing Chinese liquor (baijiu) into a prime coordinating center in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. "Luzhou has incongruities," he said, "- uneven urban-rural development, especially in education and health. Also, neighboring Yunnan province has poverty-stricken counties in its mountainous areas. We must invest, especially in technology and the training of personnel, and we are implementing the national mandate for 'precision poverty reduction'. The burden is heavy."

Luzhou is a major port on the Yangtze River and the largest in Sichuan. The Yangtze links half of China, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt connects nine provinces and two of China's major cities - Chongqing, the great western center, and Shanghai, China's economic engine on the sea.

Liu explained how Luzhou works with the megalopolises:

"With Chongqing, we cooperate in tourism, agriculture, complementary industries and transportation interoperability. With Shanghai, we have agreements in science and technology and innovation-driven development, and we invite Shanghai companies to Luzhou."

Because of its geographic location, Luzhou decided to become a transportation hub - and at its center is the Luzhou port, which connects the city with the entire Yangtze River Economic Belt. Cargo goods from Luzhou can now reach the Republic of Korea via Nanjing in Jiangsu province, and Taiwan via Wuhan, Hubei province. Additionally, in 2011, the government spent 500 million yuan ($74.97 million; 67.4 million euros; 61 million) to build the first railway-river combined transportation system.

More than raw economic growth is required though. To improve standards of living in one of China's least developed regions, Luzhou's strategy is also to become a regional educational and health center.

Liu does not fear competition. "Competition is the driving force of development," he says. "I find competition good, even necessary. Besides, there is now more cooperation. For instance, Luzhou and its neighboring cities are coordinating infrastructure, industry, environmental protection, and various exchanges. Sichuan is signing agreements with Chongqing, Yunnan and Guizhou. We tell each other what we want, and where we need support. Since the Five Major Development Concepts were raised, the cooperation between provinces has been more and deeper."

Coordinated development is especially important in China, where provincial rivalries have contributed to industrial duplications and overcapacity. Similar risks remain. The challenge is to get provinces and cities to cooperate, as well as to compete, in order to optimize development.

The author is a public intellectual, political/economics commentator and international corporate strategist.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 11/04/2016 page12)