China outlines steps to promote people-centered new urbanization strategy

BEIJING -- China will advance people-centered new-type urbanization through concrete measures, according to a State Council Information Office press conference held on Friday.

The country plans to support more rural migrant workers in settling down in urban areas and aims to lift the urbanization rate of permanent residents to nearly 70 percent within five years, according to a five-year action plan on people-centered new-type urbanization unveiled Wednesday by the State Council, China's cabinet.

China's urbanization rate of permanent residents stood at 66.16 percent by the end of 2023, a marked rise from 53.1 percent by the end of 2012, said Zheng Bei, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, adding that a total of 165 million rural people became urban residents through the country's household registration system in the past decade.

China will implement targeted measures in two key types of areas. In regions with low urbanization rates and large populations, the focus will be on enhancing the level of urbanization, while in areas with relatively high urbanization rates and continuous population agglomeration, the goal will be to cultivate modern metropolitan areas, Zheng explained.

China will continue to implement proactive fiscal measures to support the people-centered new-type urbanization, said Fu Jinling, a finance ministry official.

For example, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), a total of 60 billion yuan (about 8.41 billion U.S. dollars) will be invested to promote the construction of sponge cities, Fu added.

He noted that in 2023, the central government earmarked 140 billion yuan of national bonds to support key cities across the country in enhancing their urban drainage and flood control capabilities.

Shang Jianhua, an official of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, stated that with nearly 300 million rural migrant workers in China, the ministry has adopted multiple measures in recent years to enhance their employment opportunities and will continue with these efforts.

The measures include expanding employment channels, optimizing employment services, enhancing skills training and safeguarding the rights and interests of workers, according to Shang.