Regional Division and Statistics in China By Zhang Peng National Bureau of Statistics of China

I. Regional Division of China natural division natural features and ambiguous boundary. administrative division belonging to superstructure, has clear legal boundary line. economic regional division belongs to economic activity region, the boundary line may change with the development of economy.

i. Natural division of China

1. The northern monsoon region occupies about 46% of the total area of China plains distinct monsoon influence mainly covered by forest the utmost agricultural region in China. 1 46%

2. The Northwest arid region occupying about 27.3% of the total area in the inland of China, high plains little aqueous vapor from sea covered by desert saltwater lakes serious soil desertification and salination the influence of human beings here is far less broad than the Eastern Monsoon Region %

3. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau area occupies about 26.7% of the total area high plateaus mainly covered by desert, mesophorbium shrub major glaciers and lakes mainly animal husbandry %

ii. Administrative division of China

Provinces 23 Autonomous Regions: 5 Municipalities Directly: 4 Special Administrative Regions: 2 Cities:333 Counties: 2862 Townships:

1. Economic regional division History of China 1 iii. Economic regional division of China

2. Status quo of Chinese Economic Regional Division 2

3. Basic Features of Four Economic Regions (1) East Economic Region East Economic Region includes ten provinces and cities. In this region, the coastal economy is developed, economic strength is powerful, and the population density and economic density rank the first in the four economic regions. The gross regional product of the ten eastern provinces (cities) is RMB trillion Yuan in 2006, accounting for 55.6% of GDP. The geographical position of East Economic Region is superior, the transportation system is developed, and the advantages in respect of technology, talents, funds, resources and information are very obvious. The industry foundation is powerful and opening degree is very high. 3 1

(2) Middle Economic Region Middle Economic Region is located at the inland China, including six provinces. The six provinces have obvious location advantages, with the functions of introduction from four directions and influencing on the adjacent regions; they play an important role in the national territorial division. Middle Economic Region is the largest commercial grain base, important industrial base of energy and raw materials, important transportation region, and transport and distribution center of both travelers and goods. About 1/4 railways, roads and rivers of China lie at this region. However, as the starting points of development and environment are different, the economic development level of Middle Region gets behind the developed east area, and its speed of growth is lower than West China. 2

(3) West Economic Region West Economic Region includes 12 provinces and regions. The region is wide, but the regional distribution of population and economy is unbalanced. Generally, the population and economic development level are close to Middle Economic Region to the east of the east longitude 100°; to the west, the area is mostly of high mountain, desert and arid grassland with few people, laggard economy and poor natural conditions. West Economic Region is the main gathering place of ethnic minorities. There are abundant natural resources and mineral resources in this region. The development of characteristic agriculture and animal husbandry is sure to haves prosperous future. 3

(4) Northwest Economic Region Northwest Economic Region includes three provinces and eastern region of Inner Mongolia (land area:1.45 million square kilometers, total population: 0.12 billion). It is the traditional industrial base of China. In the era of planned economy, Northwest Economic Region played an important role in Chinese economy. The natural condition and resource endowment structure of the three northwest provinces are similar, and the historical links are very close. Currently, they face many common problems, such as resource depletion, single ownership structure, and the update of industrial structure. 4

II. Regional Statistics of China i. Government Statistical System of China Comprehensive statistical system of the government: for regional management Statistical system of the government department: for industrial management : :

ii. Regional Statistics under Existing Statistical System 1. Regional Statistics Carried out by the Statistical Department of a Local Government The regional statistics is the statistical institution of local government takes statistics of all types of economic institutions within the administrative area, without reference to their relationship of administrative subordination, the nature of ownership and modes of business operation, according to the existing administrative division, and the regional statistics is realized in the scope of administrative divisions. 1

2. Special Regional Statistics for Special Demand Cross-administrative regional statistics and monitoring of functional areas 3. Regional Statistics Jointly Carried out by the Statistical Departments of Local Governments Conclude the needed regional statistical data 2 3

4. Regional Statistics in Conformity to Regional Planning Collected and prepared the statistical data in conformity to the economic regional division scope 5. Regional Statistics in Minority Autonomous Regions Collected and prepared the statistical data of each autonomous region 4 5

Thank you!