Core Insights - The forum focused on the development of new urbanization during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, emphasizing the importance of integration across various dimensions such as regional, urban-rural, industrial, digital, green, cultural, and safety aspects [1][2] Urban Agglomeration Construction - Current urban agglomerations and metropolitan areas primarily exist in a physical state, lacking deep economic and social interactions, leading to a dominance of central cities over smaller towns and rural areas [2] - The central government's focus is on promoting integration and collaboration within urban agglomerations rather than mere scale expansion, necessitating a balance between connectivity and differentiation [2][3] Infrastructure and Public Services - Emphasis on improving the connection between new and old infrastructure, addressing issues like "dead-end roads" and ensuring uniform standards across various infrastructures [3] - The importance of enhancing the connectivity of basic public services is highlighted, with a focus on collaborative efforts to share quality resources among cities [3] Urban-Rural Integration - The central government prioritizes urban-rural integration, recognizing the need for cities to support rural development, as rural areas remain the weakest link in modernization efforts [5][6] - Key reforms are needed to facilitate the two-way flow of resources between urban and rural areas, including household registration and land system reforms [6] Population Trends and Predictions - Predictions indicate a continuous decline in rural population, with estimates suggesting a drop from 465 million to 398 million by 2030, and further to 353 million by 2035 [7] - The number of administrative villages is expected to decrease significantly, leading to challenges such as village vacancy and inefficient land use [7] Quality of Urbanization - The relationship between speed and quality in urbanization is crucial, with a focus on improving urbanization quality as a primary goal [7] - Despite a slowdown, urbanization in China is projected to continue, with urbanization rates expected to reach 71.5% by 2030 and 74.6% by 2035 [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the transformation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) from a port economy to an innovation-driven economy, highlighting the importance of urban clusters in enhancing regional competitiveness and economic integration [2][9][12]. Group 1: Urban Cluster Development - The GBA is positioned as a key player in building world-class urban clusters, supported by the central government's policies aimed at high-quality urban development [2][4]. - The GBA's economic total is projected to reach 14.79 trillion yuan in 2024, surpassing New York and San Francisco, with an estimated per capita GDP of approximately 170,200 yuan [8][12]. - The internal dynamics of the GBA are shifting from traditional gateway cities like Hong Kong and Guangzhou to innovation-centric cities like Shenzhen, reflecting a change in development focus [4][10]. Group 2: Economic Transition - The GBA is transitioning from a geographical aggregation of cities to a chemically integrated urban cluster, emphasizing innovation as the new economic driver [5][9]. - The region has seen a 25% increase in internal talent mobility and a 30% increase in external exchanges over the past three years, indicating enhanced collaboration and resource sharing [6][7]. - The GBA's industrial system is becoming increasingly self-sufficient, with over 70% of the supply chain for certain industries, such as printing, now sourced from within the region [7][11]. Group 3: Future Prospects - The GBA is expected to become the world's largest economic and innovation center within the next decade, driven by its unique integration of development and reform mechanisms [8][13]. - The region is strategically positioned to link with Southeast Asian markets, enhancing its role in the "Belt and Road" initiative and serving as a hub for international trade [14][15]. - The combination of industry, finance, and innovation in the GBA could potentially surpass other global bay areas, establishing it as the largest and most multifunctional urban cluster [16].