| This research assessed how governments influenced key town development through a case study of Zhili Town, Huzhou City in the context of China's political, economic and administrative reform. This research is conducted under the framework that key towns have become the centers of rural urbanization and economic growth. The thesis builds, an internal-external conceptual framework to examine the mechanisms of governmental influence on key town development.; The research found a consistent transformation trend that key towns have become more important than ordinary towns in Huzhou City. Governments played a crucial role in this process. Higher level governments mainly improved the development conditions of Zhili Town. Their primary actions were to assign priorities to Zhili Town. Those actions enlarge the difference between key towns and ordinary towns. In general, higher level governments imposed indirect influence, while the town government directly influenced the town's development. To improve economic performance and sustain its modernization, the town government determined the trade-oriented development model and modernization target, which built the foundation of the town's sustainable success. It also enforced HRS, CSS, and privatization reform and opened itself to migrants. All the actions initiated by the town government were integrated to achieve similar goals. |
