21专访｜肖金成：都市圈、城市群的范围并非越大越好

Core Viewpoint - The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is set to review the suggestions for the 15th Five-Year Plan, aiming to outline the blueprint for China's development over the next five years, with a focus on urbanization and regional development [1] Urbanization and Regional Development - During the 14th Five-Year Plan, significant achievements were made in urban construction and regional development, with the urbanization rate expected to reach 67% by the end of 2024, translating to approximately 940 million people living in urban areas [1] - The current phase of urbanization is shifting from rapid growth to stable development, emphasizing quality improvement over quantity expansion [1][3] Key Focus Areas for the 15th Five-Year Plan - The primary task of the new urbanization strategy is to promote the urbanization of the agricultural transfer population, focusing on equal access to public services rather than merely resolving household registration issues [3][7] - The development of metropolitan areas and urban clusters should be based on the connections between cities and their radiating capabilities, with an emphasis on implementing approved metropolitan area plans [3][9] Regional Coordination and Development Strategies - The core of regional coordination development remains consistent, focusing on reducing disparities in GDP per capita, living standards, and public services across regions [3][4] - The new urbanization strategy emphasizes improving the quality of urbanization and enhancing the living conditions of the agricultural transfer population, moving towards a more human-centered approach [4][5] Challenges in Urbanization - The agricultural transfer population faces significant barriers to full integration into urban life, particularly in accessing education, social security, and housing, leading to a situation where it is easier to move to cities than to fully integrate [5][7] - The misconception that household registration is the primary issue in urbanization has led to challenges in providing adequate public services to the agricultural transfer population [6][7] Urban Development Trends - The trend of increasing population movement from rural to urban areas is shifting towards inter-city migration, which should be addressed within the framework of the main functional area strategy rather than the new urbanization strategy [5][8] - The phenomenon of large cities growing larger creates pressure on urban management and exacerbates disparities with surrounding smaller cities, necessitating a shift from a siphoning effect to a radiating effect [8][9] Recommendations for Future Development - To promote coordinated development among large, medium, and small cities, it is essential to enhance transportation networks and establish regional cooperation mechanisms [9][10] - The government and market must collaborate to address the practical issues of metropolitan area planning, including funding and implementation [9][11] Land System Reform - The land system reform during the 14th Five-Year Plan has made progress, particularly in the area of rural land rights, but challenges remain in the pricing and transfer of land use rights [12][13] - Future reforms should focus on the integration of land use rights and the promotion of urban-rural integration, particularly in small towns [14][15] Urban Renewal Initiatives - The focus for urban development is shifting towards high-quality urban renewal, which includes improving living conditions and addressing infrastructure issues [16] - Key actions for urban renewal in the 15th Five-Year Plan should include developing specific urban renewal plans and addressing funding challenges [16]