Experts and scholars in urban planning have proposed suggestions for Shenyang on the construction of a National Central City, during a forum held in Shenyang on Sept 26.

A National Central City is a government designation of a city that is economically, politically and culturally dominant, with enough strength to help drive the growth of nearby cities.

Shenyang, a city in the traditional industrial base, in common with most of Northeast China, is bearing the brunt of a regional economic slowdown. To construct a National Central City, the following advice has been highlighted.

The first is to achieve the transformation and upgrading of Shengyang's manufacturing industry, which was proposed by Niu Xiong, an associate research fellow from the Development Research Center of the State Council.

He pointed out that Shenyang used to rely largely on equipment manufacturing, which has lost its advantages over time. However, Shenyang could make full use of its original industrial foundations to update its industries in manufacturing fields such as engines, robots, and machine tools; whilst seizing the opportunities of the government’s determination to rejuvenate the northeastern region and the Made in China 2025 strategy.

He also mentioned that Shenyang should make efforts to support the development of private businesses to provide more jobs and start-up opportunities for talented individuals, as Shenyang has suffered a “brain drain” in recent years.

The second suggestion for Shenyang is to make residents’ health a priority, meaning Shenyang will probably have to create a better living environment.

Ma Xiangming, a member of the Urban Planning Society of China, stressed that residents’ health is highly affected by the living environment. Shenyang should take advantage of its 27 rivers to provide places for people to stay, relax and enjoy the scenery. More outdoor sports facilities should also be constructed to tackle the increasing problem of obesity.

The third is to formulate a suitable transport policy before exploring a new area for commercial or industrial use. Many cities in China do not take citizens’ travel needs into consideration, more and more people have to drive a car due to inconvenient public transportation and the poor planning of roads, which affects the development of cities and residents’ quality of life.

Experts and scholars in urban planning discuss suggestions for Shenyang, on the possibility of becoming a National Central City, during the forum held in Shenyang on Sept 26. [Photo/Xinhua]