The Development Pattern of Land Space

It refers to a distribution status formed through long-term agriculturalization, industrialization and urbanization and other economic activities of a country by relying on a certain geographical space. Improving the territory spatial development pattern means, from the perspective of national development and overall interests, emphasizing the optimization of the allocation of various factors such as economy, society, population and environment, and the optimization of the allocation of factors at present and in the future, and finally achieving the balance of population, resources and environment, as well as the unify of economic, social and ecological benefits. Improving the territory spatial development pattern is a strategy proposed in light of the prominent resource and environmental problems, strategic adjustment of economic structure, and large spatial disparity. Improving the territory spatial development pattern was put forward in the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan”. The Report of the 17th CPC National Congress in 2007 made improving the territory spatial development pattern an important strategic task for economic development in the next 13 years.

Improving the territory spatial development pattern includes five interrelated levels: Firstly, at the land and sea level, establish the concept of “large territory”, adhere to the overall development of land and sea, give full play to the important role of marine territory as an economic space, strategic channel, resource base, environmental background and national defense barrier, and promote the in-depth development of land territory and the building of a maritime power. Secondly, at the regional level, establish a balanced development concept, adhere to the matching of territory development with resource and environmental carrying capacity, insist on key development, point-axis cluster development, supporting development in backward areas, and promote the equalization of basic public services. Thirdly, at the urban-rural level, establish the concept of integrated urban-rural development, optimize the development and cultivation of urban agglomerations, promote the coordinated development of large, medium and small cities and small towns, promote the equal exchange of urban and rural elements and the balanced allocation of public resources, and achieve urban areas supporting rural development and rural-urban co-prosperity. Fourthly, at the industrial level, establish the concept of coordinated industrial development, adhere to the simultaneous development of industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization, and optimize the layout of bases based on regional resource advantages. Fifthly, at the functional level, establish the main functional concept of territory development, control the development intensity, adjust the spatial structure, promote territory remediation, construct a scientific and reasonable urbanization pattern, agricultural development pattern, and ecological security pattern according to the principles of balanced population, resources and environment, and unified economic, social, and ecological benefits, and realize intensive and efficient production space, moderate livable living space, and ecological space with beautiful scenery.

The “National Plan for Main Functional Areas” issued by the State Council in 2010 further proposed to promote the formation of a territory spatial development pattern coordinating population, economy, resources and environment. In 2012, the 18th CPC National Congress emphasized that territory is the spatial carrier of ecological civilization construction. It is necessary to vigorously promote the construction of ecological civilization and improve the territory spatial development pattern. In April 2015, the “Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Accelerating the Construction of Ecological Civilization”, proposed to strengthen the positioning of the main functions and improve the territory spatial development pattern. The establishment of a territory spatial planning system is an important means to improve the territory spatial development pattern. Territorial planning is the comprehensive, basic, strategic and binding territorial spatial planning at the highest level, and has a leading, coordinating and guiding role in regional planning, land planning, urban and rural planning and other special planning. The establishment of a territory spatial development and protection system is an important guarantee for improving the territory spatial development pattern. According to the territory spatial planning system, delineate “survival line”, “ecological line”, “development line” and “security line” to comprehensively strengthen the control of territory spatial development; for strategic resources involving national food, energy, ecology and economic security, implement the cap and quota management system for development and utilization; improve the cultivated land protection and land conservation system, establish and improve the resource paid use system and the development compensation system, and strictly implement the resource protection and utilization accountability system.

Implementing land differentiation management is the main approach to improve the territory spatial development pattern. Comprehensively use system and policy tools such as land planning, land use standards, land prices, etc., to strengthen the coordination of land policies with financial and industrial policies, and promote the optimization of development layout and resource conservation and intensive use. It is necessary to give play to the regulating and guiding role of the land use plan, focus on supporting land use in underdeveloped areas, and for strategic emerging industries, and major national infrastructure construction, and focus on ensuring land use for construction projects under such as the program of “agriculture, rural areas, and farmers”, the people's livelihood program and social programs.