PROPOSED OBGI SPONSORED SEMINAR TOPIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05927A000300190011-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 9, 2002
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: March 20, 1972
• Content Type: MF

Approved ForReIQgse 20~p5/ j, ^:
IATF JD -9W AOO~00190011-5
20 March 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Basic and Geographic Intelligence
THROUGH: Chief, Geography Division, OBGI ~
THROUGH: Chief, Far East/Pacific Branch, OBGI
SUBJECT: Proposed OBGI Sponsored Seminar Topic
1. A topic concerned with small and medium scale industry and
its significance in Chinese industrialization plans is proposed for
possible inclusion in the OBGI seminar series. Preliminary contacts
with OER personnel indicate a favorable response to the idea. No
list is included of academicians who would be invited, but undoubtedly
there are several China specialists -- economists, geographers, and
others -- who could make contributions. More specific information
and background about the topic are provided below.
2. Industrialization in the PRC has proceeded along two fronts.
First, the widely publicized development of industry patterned after
the Soviet model -- concentration upon heavy industry and central
government control in the planning and allocation of resources --
followed during the 1950's. A second less well known and visible
effort is local or small and medium scale industrial development
under provincial and local administrative control. National appli-
cation of local industry techniques -- the Maoist "walking on two
legs" approach -- did receive great publicity during the Leap Forward
period. The excesses and ill-planning of many of these enterprises,
e.g., the backyard furnaces, led to their early abandonment by the PRC.
3. Although much less information is available about the Chinese
economy during the 60's and to the present, limited data are available
to indicate that small and medium scale industrialization projects
have once again been given some priority -- though with much less
publicity and pervasiveness in implementation than characterized the
earlier Leap Forward era. The rationale, extent, management, and
economic and geographic soundness of such a program is a broad and
relatively little known topic -- but one of considerable importance
in understanding Chinese economic development and predicting its
future.
4+. Geographic interest in this topic includes the relationship
of the industrial projects to local resources, transportation lines
Approved For Release 2002/05/08 : CIA RDP78-05927Ad00 O
 Approved For Release 20 0,x, / 8?`;~ 0 0000190011-5
STAT
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that serve them, market areas served, and the existence of an
industrial system or hierarchy ascending from local levels through
province and the economic coordination region. Although little
information is believed available on the existence of industrial
hierarchies and systems, there may be sufficient data to permit
reasonable deductions and inferences to be made. There may be,
for example, information available in selected areas to permit
a model to be constructed with potential applications for other
areas in China.
5. Interest exists in OER on this topic, though presently
little substantive research has been promoted. Q an analyst
in the Industries Branch, China Division, indicated that although
a limited amount of preliminary research has been done on this topic,
priority work had prevented a published research report. He felt
that a seminar of the type envisaged would be useful and that quite
likely OER would be willing to participate and contribute. He
further stated that the Branch Chief, was interested
in this, particularly from the point of reallocation of industrial
capacity. 0 also suggested that a maximum OER contribution
would likely require a lead time of several months to permit
additional research. Currently,priority work would not allow any
more than perfunctory :participation if the seminar were held during
the next few weeks.
STAT
Far East Pacific Branch, OBGI
Approved For Release 20.02L05/08 : CIA-RDP78-05927A000300190011-5
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