Beijing sets 2020 population target

Beijing is determined to keep its population at less than 23 million by 2020 by moving out industries that are not suitable for the capital and adjusting economic structures, deputies said on Friday.

Li Shixiang, executive vice-mayor of Beijing, said during the third session of the 12th National People's Congress that the capital, which faces a serious water shortage, must control its residential population and that the government has taken various measures over the past two years to do so.

After researching the city's water resources capacity, the government found that Beijing's population should be no more than 23 million by 2020, said Li, also an NPC deputy.