Core Insights - The central urban work conference held in Beijing from July 14 to 15 outlined a new blueprint for urbanization in China, emphasizing a transition from rapid growth to stable development and from large-scale expansion to quality improvement and efficiency enhancement [1][2] Group 1: Urbanization Transition - The conference identified a significant shift in urbanization, stating that the urbanization rate growth has decreased from 1.59 percentage points in 2011 to 0.84 percentage points in 2024, with the annual increase in urban population stabilizing between 10 million and 12 million [1] - The expansion rate of urban built-up areas has dropped from 4% in 2014 to 1.24% in 2023, indicating a transition to micro-growth and negative growth in new construction land [1][2] Group 2: Quality Improvement and Efficiency Enhancement - The shift from "incremental expansion" to "stock quality improvement and efficiency enhancement" presents new challenges in urban governance, as the built-up area has increased by 44.3% over the past 20 years, while the urban resident population has only grown by 25.2% [2] - The focus on "stock quality improvement" signifies a fundamental change in urban development logic, moving from spatial expansion to functional enhancement, and from reliance on land finance to fostering endogenous growth [2] Group 3: Systematic Approach to Urban Development - The conference outlined seven key tasks that form a comprehensive path for quality improvement and efficiency enhancement, including innovation-driven cities, livable cities, beautiful cities, resilient cities, civilized cities, and smart cities [3] - The systematic layout reflects the development philosophy of "people's cities built by the people, for the people," addressing various aspects of public concern, such as housing policies and community services [3] Group 4: Challenges and Future Directions - Despite the clear direction for urban transformation, challenges remain in the urban governance system, with gaps in public service supply compared to public expectations [4] - Continuous efforts and reforms are necessary to achieve a more sustainable and vibrant new urbanization path, which is crucial for the quality of urban development and the well-being of millions of citizens [4]