The 7th Sino-German seminar on urbanization was held in Changchun, capital of Northeast China’s Jilin province, on Oct 29, according to officials.

Experts in the field of urbanization from both countries attended the event, officials added. They exchanged their views on the development and challenges in urbanization and discussed how to promote cooperation in the sustainable development of urbanization.

An official from Germany said at the event that urban and spatial planning, transportation, the environment and digitalization were of great significance in urbanization -- and two countries’ practices in these areas provided a platform for exchanging and learning from each other.

Song Jingwu, vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that Germany developed urbanization early, and its experience in well-balanced administrative resources and social public service was worthy of study in China in the course of pursuing its own urbanization.

Experts also discussed the sustainable development of urbanization and practices for tackling climate change.

A consensus was reached during the event, which put forward that new forms of urbanization should incorporate people-oriented ideas -- and individual qualities and capabilities should be paid attention to.

And at the same time, the government should place more focus on ecological protection and saving resources including land, water and energy, the consensus found.

The seminar, which was held for the seventh time, has previously been held in China in Xuzhou, Shenyang, Baotou, Chengdu, Ji’nan and Xuchang.

The 7th Sino-Germany seminar on urbanization is held in Changchun, Jilin province, on Oct 29. [Photo/Changchun Daily]