Globalization Through Economic Gateways: Opening up of Yunnan Towards Asian Neighbours

The opening-up process of Yunnan has made the province a focus of study owing to its innovative development policies adopted by the provincial leaders towards integrating the province into the global economic process. The regional economic model thus adopted was based on the specific geographical and cultural position the province enjoyed historically as a part of the Southern Silk Road. The border towns and markets were quite developed and were the main point of flourishing trade between China and neighbouring countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia. Due to its limited connectivity and industrial backwardness, Yunnan has been referred to as a “periphery” in the mainstream development discourse and policy analysis. During Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit in 2009, the concept of Bridgehead was introduced, which linked Yunnan with the idea of opening its southwest border region to the world outside. The paper discusses how the border regions were redefined as having greater transborder mobility, especially between border cities of neighbouring countries in China. Secondly, how did the historical and cultural factors have shaped the re-imagination of Yunnan province into an economic gateway towards China’s Asian neighbours?

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