Western Development In Ningxia Regional Competitive Advantage

Ningxia is an inland autonomous region in the northwest of China. Its economic foundation is very weak. Restricted by the poor territorial environment and natural conditions, the economic development speed is slow too. Since the opening policy of China, the economic gap is becoming wider compared with the developed east area. At the beginning of the new century, with the policy of Great West Development Strategy set forth by the Party Central Committee, the less developed west area has received great opportunities for future development. Ningxia also put forward a slogan called "Ningxia will stand in the fore front in the Great West Development Strategy".Whether Ningxia could seize the opportunity to boost local economic development or not, the key is to establish a strong competitive territorial advantage. It is because the traditional resource advantage can hardly play an active role in boosting economic development in today's era of dynamic competition. Therefore, under the basis of comparison advantage, Ningxia shall foster the competitive advantages with the territorial characters through appropriate relocating the mainstay and dominant industries. This is the key for us to meet the challenge and participate in the competition.The article has five parts: the first part is an introduction of characters of Ningxia and the re-understanding of the traditional resources advantage. The second part mainly tells about the historical opportunities brought about to Ningxia through the implementation of the Great West Development Strategy. The third part illustrates the guiding theory for regional economic development. The forth part analyzes the selection and re-location of the mainstay and dominant industries of Ningxia and the final part gives out some suggestions on the related policies of establishing territorial competitive advantage of Ningxia.