Chinese premier calls for efforts to tackle urbanization challenges

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) presides over a meeting with academicians and experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) on the country's urbanization in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 30, 2013. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for efforts to tackle challenges in the country's urbanization wave and seek quality and efficiency in this process.

China's urbanization needs to be supported by integrated reforms, said Li in a recent meeting with academicians and experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

More than 100 experts from the two academies have conducted research on different aspects of urbanization, and they recently shared the research findings with the premier.

A survey by the CAE showed that most of migrant workers born after 1980 are unwilling to go back to the countryside. The rural-urban population shift has become an inevitable trend.

Academicians also found that more than 100 million migrant workers in Chinese cities cannot enjoy the same public services as urban residents, highlighting the need for reforms.

A number of other issues including job creation and environmental protection in the urbanization process were also raised by academicians.

Li said urbanization is a complex and big project and the government must hear opinions from all sides.

The premier reiterated that China will put the people in the heart in pushing for urbanization, adding that China will take an urbanization path that incorporates the ideas of green and efficient growth.