Modernization is the goal

China's new leadership has stressed the importance of urbanization for the nation's modernization.

But urbanization on its own does not equate to modernization. Even if more people from rural areas become residents in cities they will not enjoy a dignified life there without stable jobs. Instead they will simply create dual urban-rural structures in the cities eventually.

Although urbanization in some Latin American countries is as high as 80 percent, they are still developing countries, mainly because of their urban-rural city structures characterized by slums.