Why can China's coal resource-exhausted enterprises cross the district to transfer?

A key issue for the Chinese government entails managing the coordinated regional implementation of a program designed to achieve the sustainable development of coal resource-exhausted enterprises in eastern China and the industrial upgrading in coal resource-rich regions in midwest China. Based on systems engineering and synergetics, this study analyzes the coupled correlations between coal resources-exhausted enterprises in eastern China and the midwest regions with rich coal resources by utilizing relevant index data samples for the Xuzhou Mining Group as well as Guizhou, Qinghai and Xinjiang during the period 2005–2015 for empirical testing. The results reveal the following: (1) The coupling of the advantages between coal resources-exhausted enterprises from eastern China and the coal resource-rich regions in midwest China is essential for inter-district shifts by coal resources-exhausted enterprises from eastern China. (2) The likelihood of an inter-district shift by coal resources-exhausted enterprises from eastern China depends on their degree of coupling. (3) The degree of coupling can be used as a scientific basis to select targets for inter-district transfers. The degree of coupling between Xuzhou Mining Group and Xinjiang is higher than that between Xuzhou Mining Group and Guizhou, Qinghai. Thus, shifts to Xinjiang may be awarded priority. (4) Both sides should focus on overcoming their disadvantages in order to improve their degree of coupling and strengthen the driving force of inter-district transfers and regional coordinated development.