A new path to urbanization

A new path to urbanization

Never in history has a developing country as large as China, with a population of 1.3 billion, attempted to engineer a well-managed process of urbanization. China can no longer follow the beaten track of inefficient and blinkered development relying on borrowed money – this damages the environment and results in an imbalance between the needs of the population and land resources. That path will lead the country nowhere.

At this juncture, China must follow a new path to urbanization and choose the right direction. The people-centered urbanization drive is based on China's realities in the primary stage of socialism. It is a choice that meets our development imperatives and enables us to make the best use of opportunities available to bring assured success to this process.

A people-centered approach is indispensable if we want to achieve the best results of urbanization. Appropriate plans should be worked out to ensure that towns and cities of all sizes complement each other with well-defined functions for coordinated development. Eco-friendly measures will be effectively implemented in our push for green, circular and low-carbon development. Special care must be taken to preserve traditional culture in our effort to redevelop cities and towns with historical landmarks and local or ethnic features.

Quality should be the first priority in the process of urbanization, with more emphasis on increasing the urbanization rate of residents with household registration, providing adequate public services in equal measure to both rural and urban areas and building a more accordable and livable environment in towns and cities where people feel that they are well-served and they are happy with their life.

新型城镇化道路

中国这样一个拥有13多亿人口的发展中大国实现城镇化，在人类发展史上没有先例。粗放扩张、人地失衡、举债度日、破坏环境的老路不能再走了，也走不通了。在这样一个十分关键的路口，必须走出一条新型城镇化道路。推进以人为核心的新型城镇化，就是从社会主义初级阶段基本国情出发，遵循规律、顺势而为、水到渠成的发展过程。要坚持以人为本，推进以人为核心的城镇化；坚持优化布局，促进大中小城市和小城镇合理分工、功能互补、协同发展；坚持生态文明，着力推进绿色发展、循环发展、低碳发展；坚持传承文化，发展有历史记忆、地域特色、民族特点的美丽城镇。要坚持把城镇化质量明显提高摆在突出位置来落实，更加注重提高户籍人口城镇化率，更加注重城乡基本公共服务均等化，更加注重环境宜居和历史文脉传承，更加注重提升人民群众获得感和幸福感。