Proper resource use vital in development

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-13 08:56

Since urban planners are trying to expand Beijing's central business district the government should ensure resources are evenly distributed on different parts of the city so that the south doesn't miss the development bus again, says an article in Beijing News. Excerpts:

The southern part of Beijing has always been ignored when it comes to development. What Beijing looks today is largely the result of the rebuilding of the city in the 1950s. The urban imbalance increased after the country embraced market economy. Most of the city's enterprises are in downtown areas, while residential blocks have sprung up in the suburbs, not necessarily in the south.

No sooner had Beijing won the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games did the government begin planning its venues. The initial plan reportedly was to build the Olympic Park in the southern part of the city. That was not to be, and the urban gap within the city widened further.

But on Nov 5, the government announced a 290-billion-yuan ($42.48 billion) plan to boost southern Beijing's economy by upgrading infrastructure, building new parks and improving people's livelihood in Chongwen, Xuanwu, Fengtai, Fangshan and Daxing districts. The amount, higher than that spent for the Olympics (280 billion yuan), shows the Beijing government is determined to strike a balance between different parts of the city.

But the success of the plan depends on the overall structural reform of the city. For example, the government can begin the reform by stopping the demolition of old building in Chongwen and Xuanwu, and directing realtors to focus on Fengtai, Fangshan and Daxing instead to stimulate the economy.

The urban planners will also have to ensure that southern Beijing remains an integral part of their future development drive so that resources are distributed evenly on different parts of the city.

(China Daily 11/13/2009 page9)