STUDIES ON CHINESE MODERNIZATION

Capitalizing Data Resources on Chinese Enterprise Balance Sheets： Practical Exploration， Development Trends， and Path Construction 4

Liu Xiaohan

Abstract： As a pivotal event in the development of China’s digital economy， capitalizing enterprise data resources on balance sheets is crucial for unlocking the value of data elements and fostering new quality productive forces. Currently， enterprises face challenges in confirming， measuring， and disclosing their data assets. To accelerate enterprises’ digital transformation and enhance their capabilities to leverage data assets for investment and financing， cities like Beijing， Shanghai， Shenzhen， and Guangzhou have pioneered proactive approaches， offering valuable insights for other regions. Looking ahead， the steady promotion of capitalizing enterprise data resources on balance sheets will follow the principle of “easier first， harder later，” facilitated by the establishment of relevant standards and technical specifications. Various regions and sectors of China should adopt tailored approaches aligned with local conditions such as establishing comprehensive service platforms， developing the data assetization ecosystem， and encouraging state-owned enterprises to lead by example. This strategic approach will drive the assetization and value realization of data resources， thereby empowering the high-quality development of the digital economy.

Keywords： data resources; data assets; data element market; digital economy; digital China

Reconstructing Space of Flows： China’s Low-altitude Economy and High-quality Development 19

Ye Lin， Mei Chang

Abstract： The concept of “Space of Flows” highlights how the mobility of factors influences spatial dynamics， offering a nuanced view of how space evolves from a static， place-based concept to a relational one. The low-altitude economy， representing new quality productive forces， emerges from the interplay of information， logistics， people， and capital in three-dimensional space. This interaction significantly shapes socio-economic interaction patterns. The development of the low-altitude economy relies on the scaling of low-altitude airspace and the circulation of elements across various scales， which establishes the foundational order for its growth. By rescaling scales， enhancing momentum， and improving governance efficiency， the low-altitude economy helps address the issue of spatial fragmentation. To promote the high-quality development of this economy， state guidance is crucial in fostering collaborative governance of the space of flows， developing integrated mechanisms involving systems， markets， and technology， and promoting new quality productive forces through evolving production relations.

Keywords： low-altitude economy; space of flows; new quality productive forces; spatial governance; future-oriented industries

GUANGDONG-HONG KONG-MACAO GREATER BAY AREA

Social Protection of Mobile Population： A Case Study of Nine Inland Cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area 34

Liao Liao， Huang Weijun， Yu Ruyi

Abstract： The social protection level of cross-regional mobile population serves as an indicator of urban integration and development. This paper uses the Social Protection Index （SPI） proposed by the Asian Development Bank to assess the social protection level of the mobile population in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and identifies associated challenges and governance strategies. Empirical results indicate that the social protection systems in the nine inland cities of the Greater Bay Area can be categorized into welfare-based， savings-based， and insurance-based models， with notable differences in policy characteristics and the scope of protection. The paper recommends optimizing the social protection system in the Area by enhancing policy quality， addressing diverse social security needs for better coordination， and creating a “Bay Area model” for mobile population through cross-boundary coordination mechanisms.

Keywords： mobile population; the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; social protection; social security; public services

Drawing on External Experiences to Transform Hong Kong’s Trade Pattern： A Comparative Study of Cross-Border E-Commerce Hub Cities 48

Zhang Jun， Fan Rui

Abstract： To thrive in the digital economy， Hong Kong’s import and export trade industry must effectively address the challenges of cross-border e-commerce. A comparative analysis of Singapore， Shenzhen， and Tokyo reveals that Hong Kong should focus on enterprise roles and trade trends， both domestic and international， to become a leading international hub for cross-border e-commerce. The article recommends several strategies for Hong Kong： creating more comprehensive and integrated tools like “e-commerce booster packages” with major platforms， fully integrating with the supply chains of the Chinese mainland， and developing unique strengths in “digital rule-making” to enhance cross-border e-commerce and transform its trade practices.

Keywords： cross-border e-commerce; new trade pattern; digital infrastructure; digital economy; international hub city for cross-border e-commerce

CITY TALKS

The Theoretical Logic and Practical Strategies of Innovation-Driven Development of New Quality Productive Forces 70

Ding Huanfeng， Fang Yuanping， Liu Naiquan， Ma Haitao， Liu Chengliang

Abstract： Continuing to do a good job in innovation and accelerating the development of new quality productive forces is the way for China to further promote high-quality development， and therefore it is of great significance to comprehensively discuss the theoretical logic， realization path and practical measures of innovation-driven new quality productive forces. Theoretically， it argues that to effectively analyze the innovation-driven development of new quality productive forces， it is essential to consider national， regional， and urban perspectives， specifically within the context of China. In practical terms， this involves improving the flow of innovation elements， optimizing the coordination of innovation resources， integrating production with innovation， leveraging technological innovation centers， and enhancing regional coordination to develop hubs of new quality productive forces.

Keywords： new quality productive forces; innovation-driven development; regional innovation synergy; technological innovation; practical strategies

URBAN SPACES

Strategic Design Elements for Revitalizing Old Communities： Lessons From 211 Plans in Guangzhou 80

Ye Changdong， Chen Zihan， Mi Jiyang， Liu Yingsheng， Xie Jiaming

Abstract： Revitalizing old communities is crucial for effective urban development. This study evaluates 211 revitalization plans from Guangzhou using a theoretical framework that assesses three aspects： residents’ needs and willingness， plan design， and funding investment. It concludes that the implementation plan for revitalizing aging communities should meet residents’ needs， be practical and economically reasonable， showcase distinct features， and incorporate innovation. The design should focus on three key aspects： enhancing democratic participation， adopting people-oriented innovative concepts， and ensuring effective budget allocation and implementation oversight.

Keywords： old communities; old residential complexes; community revitalization; urban renewal

URBAN GOVERNANCE

The Construction and Transformation of Child-friendly Cities Within the Framework of Human-City-Interdisciplinary Dynamics 92

Shi Luyin， Liu Zhijun

Participation Mechanisms of Children’s Councils： A Cross-national Comparative Multi-Case Study 94

Mao Jianan， Wu Jinqun

Abstract： In the development of child-friendly cities， children’s councils play a pivotal role in enabling children to articulate their needs and participate in decision-making processes. These councils embody crucial values： they uphold intergenerational equity and justice for children （ethical dimension）， enhance civil rights and democratic governance （political dimension）， and facilitate genuine participation that transcends tokenism， thereby fostering profound empowerment （participatory dimension）. In China， establishing children’s councils requires international comparative analysis to offer both theoretical foundations and practical guidance for an effective， inclusive mechanism of children’s participation. Comparative analyses of exemplary cases both domestically and internationally reveal notable variations in participant age ranges， implementation scales， fields of participation， primary processes， and unique features. These differences not only highlight the unique strengths of each country but also indicate associated institutional risks.

Keywords： children’s councils; children’s participation; child-friendly cities; children’s rights

Children’s Participation in Urban Spaces and Language Ability Development： A Case Study on Child-Friendly Practices in Commercial Spaces 104

Yu Hua， Li Mingge

Abstract： This study investigates the design and use of urban commercial spaces from a child’s perspective， focusing on how child-friendly initiatives can foster inclusive public environments and enhance children’s observational skills and language abilities. By engaging children as researchers through observation， experience， and interviews in public spaces， the study creates opportunities for children to communicate directly with public space managers. The children then design and present their own child-friendly public spaces based on their findings. This paper outlines the process of empowering children to observe and articulate their views on commercial spaces and discusses strategies for creating child-friendly discourse environments to boost children’s language abilities and promote meaningful co-creation of public spaces.

Keywords： child-friendliness; children participation; public space; commercial space

REGION & URBANIZATION

High-Quality Development Strategies for Five Major Metropolitan Areas in Guangdong Province： Analyzing the Impact of Core Cities 115

Lai Shulin， He Haoyu， Zhang Yingfeng， Zhou Chunshan

Abstract： This study develops two frameworks to assess high-quality development in metropolitan areas and the impact of core cities. Using grey relational analysis， it investigates key issues in the development of Guangdong Province’s five metropolitan areas， identifies disparities in the driving forces of core cities， and examines their mechanisms affecting high-quality development. The findings indicate： （1） Shenzhen exhibits superior overall quality among the five metropolitan areas， while Guangzhou and Zhujiang West are improving with targeted strategies， and Shantou-Chaozhou-Jieyang and Zhanjiang-Maoming are undergoing comprehensive enhancement. （2） Crucial factors for high-quality development include the ecological linkages between core and non-core cities， the capacity of non-core cities to accommodate industrial transfers， and the economic influence of core cities. （3） Development factors vary across metropolitan dimensions， with economic influence being universally significant. The study recommends tailored strategies to boost high-quality development across the five metropolitan areas.

Keywords： metropolitan area; city clusters; high-quality development; impact of core cities; carrying capacity

Synergistic Development of Cross-District Hub Clusters： Emerging Trends in the Shenzhen Metropolitan Area 128

Zhang Dongwei， Zhan Sisi， Fang Yu， Wang Yan

Abstract： As metropolitan areas rapidly advance and achieve a high level of urban spatial maturity， peripheral districts are transforming into key platforms for regional development. WithiHG68XFJKDoOQA5NTUCZgGA==n the Shenzhen metropolitan area， the cross-border areas of Shenzhen and other cities have developed into urban corridors characterized by industrial spillover and population migration. These corridors have further fragmented into various functional clusters， each with an increasing concentration of hubs. This study explores such corridors with hub clusters， offering a novel assessment of their development characteristics and challenges across five dimensions： hub accessibility， central alignment， enterprise agglomeration， functional coordination， and hub synergy. The findings underscore a pressing need for integrated development of these hub areas， harnessing their advantageous resource endowments and diverse conditions. However， significant obstacles remain due to administrative and natural boundaries. Issues such as cities without stations and stations detached from cities continue to impede progress. To address these challenges， there is a need to optimize the integration of stations with cities and enhance the synergy between urban areas and hub clusters. Specifically， upgrading hub functions and aligning industrial development around stations with local needs is crucial. Additionally， the placement of new towns and functional nodes in areas across districts should be coordinated with hub arrangements to create cohesive development units， thereby facilitating the sustainable evolution of the metropolitan area’s functional network.

Keywords： Shenzhen metropolitan area; cross-district areas; hub clusters; the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; station-city integration

ECO-CITY

Global Strategies for Reducing Carbon Emissions in Urban Housing： Lessons for China 147

Long Jinqiao， Zhuang Liyuan， Maclennan Duncan

Abstract： Housing systems are closely linked to climate change， yet housing policies often prioritize social objectives without considering environmental impacts. This paper provides a thorough analysis of how housing affects carbon emissions and develops a theoretical framework to understand the interplay between housing and environmental factors. It examines both the direct impact of housing on carbon emissions and the reverse effects of climate change on housing systems. Greenhouse gases （GHGs） emitted through the construction， maintenance， and use of housing are significant contributors to climate change. Furthermore， climate change influenced by carbon emissions affects housing quality， pricing， operational costs， and social stratification. The paper proposes policy recommendations to address these issues， emphasizing the need for improved collaboration among housing， planning， and energy sectors. It calls for coordinated efforts from all levels of government and non-government organizations and highlights the importance of technological innovations in building low-carbon housing， retrofitting existing homes， and enhancing the energy efficiency of housing services. It advocates for the prioritization of social equity and environmental justice to mitigate the formation of inequitable geographic patterns stemming from housing stratification.

Keywords： housing system; carbon emission; housing activities; recursive relationship; dual carbon emissions control

（Initial Translation： Tingting Wang， MTI Graduate Student at Renmin University of China;

Translation and Revision： Yunping Niu， Professor at Renmin University of China.）