ABSTRACT
Urbanization in China is an increasingly important issue. In November 2012, the Report of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) mentioned ‘urbanization’ seven times. Since taking offi ce, China’s new leadership has attached high importance to China’s urbanization. The 3rd Session of the 18th CPC Meeting identifi ed ‘new urbanization’ as a future priority. The Central Economic Work Conference 2013 pointed out that ‘steady efforts should be made to advance and enhance the quality of urbanization. Urbanization is a historical task for China’s modernization and holds the greatest potential for expanding domestic demand. We should give judicious guidance according to circumstances, go after profi ts and avoid disadvantages to guide proactively the sound development of urbanization’. During the National People’s Congress (NPC) and National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sessions held in March 2013, Premier Li Keqiang pointed out, ‘Over 500 proposals on urbanization have been received and there are more to be counted. We should study these proposals carefully. There are roughly 260 million migrant workers in China, and it is a long and complex process to integrate those interested in becoming urban into cities and this requires the support of employment and guarantee of service’. In March 2014, the New-type Urbanization Plan (2014-2020) was issued in China. This document is the fi rst offi cial plan setting out a national policy for a new-type of urbanization.
