The formation of city clusters will be an integral part of
China's future development, according to an influential development
strategist.
Most of the megacities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan
already home to millions of people still have room to grow.
"Those cities should improve their management capabilities to
facilitate the growth," Li Shantong, a research fellow of the State
Council Development Research Center, said.
Smaller cities around the megacities especially those with
populations of about 1 million should be prepared to become an
integral part of the city clusters, Li, a member of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National
Committee, said.
"It is obvious that China should not pursue urbanization by
focusing on building towns and small cities," Li said.
Li has been a key consultant for the nation's decision makers
for long-term development and regional development. She was one of
the two keynote speakers at a study group session of the country's
top leaders, including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao,
in February.
There have long been debates among experts and officials about
the way forward for China's urbanization.
Some experts have suggested that villages should be "upgraded"
into towns and small cities as a priority. But others, including
Li, disagree.
City clusters have already formed on the Yangtze River Delta and
Pearl River Delta, with Shanghai and Guangzhou as their respective
core.
Other regions that could see the emergence of new clusters
include the Beijing-Tianjin area, Southwest China's
Chongqing-Chengdu area, the area around Wuhan of Central China's
Hubei Province, and the Shenyang-Dalian area in Northeast China's
Liaoning Province.
"Developing big cities is a more efficient form of urbanization
and it is conducive to sharpen the competitiveness of the regions
with cities clusters," she said.
"We should not worry about problems that many believe will
certainly come about as cities grow bigger. There will be no
problem as long as they are managed well."
Li said managers of cities on the Chinese mainland take Hong
Kong as an example of good city management. Population density in
Hong Kong is higher than almost all of China's cities. But the city
still operates very efficiently, she said.
Spatial Planning
In addition to a correct approach to urbanization, China is in
urgent need to divide its entire territory into "units" and pursue
different regional development policies according to the qualities
of the units, Li said.
Four different labels should be assigned to different units:
regions that should go for accelerated growth; regions that need
structural adjustment; regions that allow only limited economic
development because they are ecologically fragile; and regions that
allow no economic development at all.
She said the work, coordinated by the National Development and
Reform Commission, is expected to start later this year.
A final decision has yet to be made about the smallest unit for
the division, but it could be a county, she said.
The implementation of development policies based on the
divisions are also still under discussion.
"We have to start the work as soon as possible because if we
don't, we will witness more activities that hurt the environment,"
she said.
(China Daily March 16, 2007)