The future of sustainable urbanization in China

Introduction 

Night view of the Shanghai Tower and other skyscrapers and high-rise buildings in Pudong, Shanghai, China on February 7, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

Urbanization is inextricably linked to industrialization and modernization, both historically and today’s China. Pushing forward a new “people-oriented” urbanization plan, whose focus is on making cities fairer for migrants, is undoubtedly a major task during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

Cities are able to support high productivity and high-growth activities in ways that rural areas cannot. But there are some arguments against the urbanization model.

So, should the focus be more on development of metropolitan cities to bring more agglomeration effects or relocate the public resources to smaller or low-tier cities?

Debaters 

ZHENG YONGNIAN

Zheng Yongnian, the professor and director of East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore

YI PENG 

Yi Peng, the chairman of the Pangoal Institution