ABSTRACT

China announced its much anticipated Urbanization Program (2014-2020) in March 2014. For the Xi Jinping-Li Keqiang leadership, urbanization takes a central place on its reform and development agenda. It is seen as a major driving force for China’s future economic growth and a key part of China’s new growth strategies towards greater emphasis on domestic demand and less on exports. The Urbanization Program also takes on many social goals, such as social integration, equal access to basic public services, livability, and so on. According to the Urbanization Program, China’s urban population will increase by 100 million between 2014 and 2020, to exceed 800 million. By all accounts, a new wave of urbanization is coming, with profound implications for China’s economy and society.