The scientific foundation of Major Function Oriented Zoning in China

Abstract

Major function oriented zoning (MFOZ hereafter) is the guideline for optimizing the spatial pattern of regional development in China, which entails both theoretical and methodological innovation in the academic field of economic geography. This study analyzes the basic features of territorial function and puts forward a spatial equilibrium model for regional development for the first time. It argues that there exists a trend of regional convergence in the average value which indicates the comprehensive development status of any region. Based on this finding, the study illustrates that the formation of functional zone should be conducive to the narrowing of regional gap and that free flow of resources between regions is the prerequisite to spatial equilibrium. It also investigates the impact of territorial functional evolution on the process of spatial equilibrium and suggests that the maximization of benefits derived from zoning proposal is interrelative with the method of regional division and the degree of understanding towards the temporal changes of territorial function. Furthermore, this study goes on to examine the scientific foundation of several issues concerning the reconciliation between contradictory functions of development and protection, the selection of indicators and the spatial and temporal features of MFOZ. It is then probes into the rationality of achieving dual goals of efficiency and equality simultaneously through three-dimensional flow and spatial equilibrium. The paper ends with discussions on the position, implementation and coordination of MFOZ from the perspective of institutional arrangements of spatial governance including law, planning and government policy.

Measuring and Analysis of Urban Competitiveness of Chinese Provincial Capitals in 2010 under the Constraints of Major Function-Oriented Zoning Utilizing Spatial Analysis

“…For example, DOZs and DPZs are development-oriented areas with similar development potential but different development strategies, and DRZs and PDZs are protection-oriented areas with similar protection potential but different targets for protection and different levels of development permitted [35].…”

A New Methodology to Quantitatively Define Major Function Oriented Zones of County: The Case of Libo County

“…At present, method for major function oriented zones is regular use by criterion and index system. Existing index system quantification method including these：Correlation analysis method, the leading mark method, convergence analysis, association table mutually exclusive classification matrix method [1] , magic cube 3D graph analysis method [2] , state space method [3][4] , regional bearing force [5] , matrix cluster and gradually merging quantitative model method [6][7] , expert integration of qualitative analysis, the final classification evaluation matrix method [8][9][10] . this paper attempts to put forward MFOZ of county based on capacity of resource and environment , capacity of ecological ,existing development intensity and potential of development.…”

Strategic transformation of regionalization for the agricultural comprehensive development: The example of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China

“…In addition, the consequences of regionalization in China, e.g. comprehensive physiographical regionalization Lin, 1954;Huang, 1959;Hou, 1988;Ren and Yang, 1961;Zhao, 1983;Zheng, 2008;Wu and Liu, 2005), the major function-oriented zoning (Fan, 2015;Gu et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2010;Fan and Li, 2009), soil and water conservation regionalization (Zhao et al, 2013), climate regionalization (Zheng et al, 2010), the zoning of China's integrated land consolidation (Feng et al, 2006), ecosystem productivity regionalization (Xu et al, 2001), ecological regionalization (Xie et al, 2012), and geomorphological regionalization (Li et al, 2013) have all played important roles in guiding agricultural production since the 1950s.…”