Why is the construction of new-type urbanization inseparable from innovation-driven development?

Urbanization is an important way to narrow the poverty gap and also an important way to stimulate domestic demand. At the "Innovation-Driven New-Type Urbanization" sub-forum of the China Development Forum 2015 Economic Summit, participants generally agreed that in advancing urbanization, China must have innovation and follow a path of innovation-driven new-type urbanization.

Avoid one-way urbanization; the population needs flexible mobility

Qiu Baoxing, a counselor of the State Council, believes that in innovation-driven urbanization in China, the following points deserve special attention:

First, avoid concentrating more of the population in large cities. China's urbanization should follow a path of coordinated development of large, medium and small cities. A very important issue at present is to improve the living environment, education and medical and health conditions of small cities and small towns.

Second, urbanization is accompanied by motorization, and high-density urban development must be maintained rather than allowing urban density to decline. Accordingly, reform of the land system, including reform of the urban and rural planning system and reform of the land use system, must be subordinate to this characteristic.

Third, buildings must be energy-saving buildings and green buildings. The government should issue mandatory measures to ensure that by 2020 half of them meet green building standards.

Fourth, protection of natural heritage and cultural heritage must be strengthened. In the process of urbanization, China consumes 50% of the world's cement and 35% of its steel each year. Once natural heritage and cultural heritage are torn down, they cannot be rebuilt.

Fifth, one-way urbanization must be avoided. The one-way influx of rural population into cities, this "no return" model of urbanization, is unhelpful. Urbanization in many developing countries around the world is one-way urbanization. China must avoid this and allow the population to flow freely and flexibly between urban and rural areas. This is innovation.

"When the 2008 financial crisis struck, China's coastal areas lost 60 million labor jobs. Most of these migrant workers returned to their villages, which raised the level of intensive cultivation of agricultural products by one notch. After recovery from the financial crisis, migrant workers gradually moved from the countryside to the cities again. I believe that this kind of flexible structure is very important for a country with a large population like China," said Qiu Baoxing.

Real estate enterprises should proactively adapt to the trend of new-type urbanization

"Real estate enterprises should more proactively adapt to the trends of urbanization and informatization, strengthen reform and innovation of business models, and gradually transition from satisfying a single housing demand to satisfying diversified demands," said Zhang Yuliang, chairman of Greenland Group.

Zhang Yuliang believes that under the new normal, many external changes have taken place in new-type urbanization. How urbanization is carried out is not only related to China's further economic and social development, but also to global economic and social development.

How can innovation drive the construction of new-type urbanization? Zhang Yuliang offered four suggestions:

First, greater emphasis should be placed on people-centered new-type urbanization, rather than simply moving people back and forth.

Second, greater attention should be paid to the integration of industry and cities. Where people live, employment is inevitably needed. Without good employment, this kind of transfer is unhealthy. In the process of transfer, living and working support facilities are also needed. The completeness of facilities and the continuous improvement of facility standards are both very important.

Third, marketization should be reflected as the leading force, respecting the laws of the entire city and economic development.

Fourth, greater emphasis should be placed on building new-type cities, using new concepts and new technologies, and building cities with smart and green thinking.

Sustainable urbanization requires a "three-way combination" of technology, policy and behavior

Ulrich Spiesshofer, chief executive officer of ABB Group, believes that coordinated planning through technology, policy and behavior is needed to achieve sustainable urbanization development, which will help achieve new social prosperity and the establishment of sustainable city models.

In Spiesshofer's view, technology can not only build an environmentally friendly society, but also support a high quality of life for individuals.

In terms of policy, he believes that mandatory policies are necessary. "China has many such policies that need to be advanced, and energy-saving technologies must be encouraged, so as to achieve higher interconnectivity and better sustainability. At the same time, we need new policies that can put the right or appropriate technologies into use and achieve model transformation."

"From the perspective of behavior, we need to use both the carrot and the stick. We must make everyone fully understand that behavior brings benefits and provide certain incentives. If there is only talk and no action, or if there is no correct behavior, corresponding penalties should be imposed."

"Only by well combining these three elements of technology, policy and behavior can sustainable urbanization development be achieved," said Spiesshofer.

New-type urbanization brings opportunities for innovation in the transportation system

Road transportation is an important part of urbanization. Olof Persson, president and chief executive officer of Volvo Group, believes that compared with developed countries, China's current motor vehicle penetration rate is still very low, which in fact provides China with a unique opportunity to let Chinese cities use this "blank space" to create more efficient, green and economically beneficial transportation solutions.

Olof Persson said that in order to promote innovation in sustainable transportation systems, it is especially necessary to involve all stakeholders. "The government should take measures to incentivize the establishment of connections among industry, academia and policymakers."