New urbanization to be strong engine for economy

Yangtze River Delta cities are seeking to strengthen their ties in urbanization to achieve further growth.

Mayors of 30 cities gathered in Ma'ashan city of east China's Anhui province, last week for the 15th Yangtze River Delta Economic Coordination Meeting.

Cities represented Shanghai and 29 others from Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.

"Since the practical situation leaves China no choice but to look for new driving forces for growth, new urbanization will be a strong engine for the economy", said Zou Yong, official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

In February, the country's top economic planning body announced it was to carry out pilot projects in Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang province's Ningbo city for advancing the new type of urbanization. Of the pilot cities 23 are in the Yangzte River Delta.

The region is expected to benefit from multiple national development strategies, including the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road Initiatives, the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

"The strategies bring the whole Yangtze River Delta region tremendous opportunities for the future", said Wei Yao, mayor of Ma'anshan.

With the new opportunities, the cities seek to further strengthen their connection and enhance their cooperation mechanism, to compete with other regions, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster.

Zou said the NDRC hopes the 30 cities try to promote the comprehensive urbanization, which means far more than growth in urban population.

"The cities should develop themselves well in economy, politics, society, culture and ecological civilization,"said Zou.

"Every city has its own development zones of different types. The zones mainly function as hubs of enterprises, many of which are manufacturers, in the past, while from now on they should also function as major residence areas of the cities.

"The member cities should enhance their coordination in environmental protection and integration in transportation".

The Yangtze River Delta now enjoys the country's most developed high-speed rail network. Cooperation between the cities in transportation will further promote urbanization in the future.