Improving city clusters' ability to function as regional boosters

THE POLITICAL BUREAU of the Communist Party of China Central Committee has set a new orientation for China's urbanization based on improving the function of city clusters. This is a significant change in China's urbanization policy. Beijing News comments:

The urbanization plan issued in 2014 promoted migrant workers being incorporated as urban residents in an orderly manner and facilitated the equalization of basic public services in cities. It also encouraged rural residents to settle in small and medium-sized cities and strictly controlled the populations of cities with over 5 million residents.

As China's social and economic development steps into a new stage, it will develop city clusters and the medium and small-sized cities surrounding big cities. Developing small and medium-sized cities and strictly controlling the size of large cities are no longer the priority.