China's central region

Due to both geography and history, Chinese regions differ greatly in their development experiences, as well as their importance to the country’s economic future and impact to its neighbors. Accounting for around 11 percent of China’s total landmass, 28 percent of its population, and 20 percent of its GDP, China’s central region is the country’s densely populated economic hinterland, and an increasingly important market. This chapter focuses on the development of China’s central region as well as the government’s regional development policy, to facilitate a better understanding of China’s future development.