China unveils guidelines on advancing urban renewal campaign

BEIJING -- China will consistently push forward its urban renewal projects with greater efforts, according to a set of guidelines unveiled Thursday.

The guidelines, issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, are designed to achieve key progress in the country's urban renewal campaign by 2030. They also aim to improve safety conditions, enhance service efficiency, elevate living environments, develop business models, and preserve cultural heritage.

Efforts should be focused on reinforcing and renovating existing buildings as well as old residential areas, while optimizing their infrastructure, including parking, charging, fire protection and communication.

The update and renovation of old commercial blocks, factory areas and urban villages will be advanced, according to the guidelines, which also urged establishing multi-level and all-coverage public service networks to meet people's living needs.

The guidelines also called for accelerating the construction and renovation of gas, water supply, drainage, sewage, heat supply along with other underground pipeline networks and underground utility tunnels, while strengthening the construction of public fire protection facilities, and improving transportation infrastructure.

They also established requirements on restoring the ecological system in cities, and preserving urban history and culture.

In the meantime, an urban renewal implementation mechanism should be established, while the land use policy should be optimized, the guidelines said, adding that a whole-life-cycle housing safety management system needs to be created.