Li Keqiang points out that new breakthroughs must be made in advancing urbanization

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 5 (Dispatch)  Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council, when speaking about “coordinately promoting stable economic growth and structural optimization,” emphasized that new breakthroughs must be made in advancing a new type of urbanization. Adhere to a people-centered approach, focus on solving the problem of the three 100 million people, and give full play to the supporting role of urbanization in modernization.

Increase efforts to renovate shantytowns in cities and towns and dilapidated houses in urban and rural areas. This year, 7.4 million units are newly arranged for the affordable housing project, including 5.8 million units for shantytown renovation, an increase of 1.1 million units, and urban dilapidated housing renovation will be included in the scope of shantytown renovation policy. Rural dilapidated housing renovation covers 3.66 million households, an increase of 1 million households, and earthquake-resistant renovation of rural houses will be advanced in a coordinated manner. Housing security will gradually implement both physical security and monetary subsidies, and some existing housing will be converted into public rental housing and resettlement housing. For low-income families with especially difficult housing conditions, housing assistance will be provided. Adhere to categorized guidance, implement policies according to local conditions, implement the main responsibility of local governments, support residents' demand for self-occupation and improved housing, and promote the steady and healthy development of the real estate market.

Use reform methods to solve the difficult problems of urbanization. Promptly implement the reform of the household registration system and implement the policy of relaxing household registration transfer. For migrant populations who are already employed and living in cities and towns but have not yet obtained household registration, provide corresponding basic public services using residence permits as the carrier, and cancel fees for residence permits. Establish a mechanism linking fiscal transfer payments with citizenization, and reasonably share the cost of citizenization of migrant workers. Establish a standardized, diversified and sustainable investment and financing mechanism for urban construction. Adhere to economical and intensive land use, steadily establish a unified urban and rural construction land market, and improve and expand the pilot program linking increases and decreases in urban and rural construction land. Strengthen funding and policy support, and expand comprehensive pilot programs for the new type of urbanization.

Improve the level of urban planning and construction. Formulate and implement urban agglomeration plans, and orderly advance the integration of infrastructure and basic public services within the same city. Improve the standards for establishing cities, carry out pilot programs to expand powers and enhance capacities of very large towns, control the population size of mega-cities, enhance the industrial and population carrying capacity of prefecture-level cities, county towns and central towns, and facilitate nearby urbanization for farmers. Develop smart cities, and protect and pass on historical and regional culture. Strengthen the construction of urban water, gas and electricity supply, public transportation and flood prevention and drainage facilities. Resolutely address urban problems such as pollution and congestion, making travel more convenient and the environment more livable.