Premier Li Keqiang said urbanization should serve the people. In 2016, the State Council put more efforts in promoting new urbanization, from hukou reform, reconstruction projects in rundown areas to infrastructure construction.
Reconstruction Projects in Shantytowns
6 million reconstruction projects in rundown areas
The 2016 government work report said that China planned to reconstruct 6 million housing units in rundown urban areas with an improving ratio of compensation-based resettlement. According to data released by the Ministry of Housing, 5.77 million units are under reconstruction, accounting for 96 percent of the annual target.
According to a document jointly issued by the Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Finance in April, reconstruction projects in shantytown areas should be exempted from administrative charges and government funds. In addition, except land and demolition compensations, these projects will also be subject to tax deduction or exemption.
Affordable Housing Projects
Boost residential rental market
On June 3, the State Council issued a circular regarding the plan to boost the residential rental market aimed at improving urban residential housing conditions.
Residential rental market suppliers, including house-leasing companies, real estate developers, housing intermediary agencies, and individual owners, are encouraged to play a role in the market.
Preferential policies will be carried out for market suppliers and tenants to solve urban housing problems and encourage residential rental consumption.
Detail>>Boost residential rental market
Hukou Reform
Resolve hukou issue for 100 million rural migrants
The State Council released a circular to urge rolling out plans to grant hukou to rural migrants living in urban areas with steady jobs.
According to the circular, the urbanization rate of household registered population will rise an average of 1 percent each year, or more than 13 million people, during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).
By 2020, urbanization rate should reach 45 percent, a 2 percent drop from 2013 in the difference between urbanization rates of registered population with hukou and permanent residents.
Detail>>Resolve hukou issue for 100 million rural migrants
Plan to promote ‘Urban Passes’
According to a circular issued by the State Council on June 3, non-residential tenants who have local residence permits should enjoy local public services such as education and health care.
In addition, the State Council also urged efforts to improve rural infrastructure, build beautiful livable villages, and promote the urbanization of rural migrants by offering permanent residency and equal access to public services.
Detail>>Plan to promote modern agriculture
Stable development of property market
Guarantee to both house buyers and renters
The State Council issued a guideline on Feb 6 to promote the construction of a new type of urbanization.
According to the guideline, the government should build a system to guarantee people’s different housing needs based on the market as well as government support. Public-rent houses or subsidies should be granted to low-income families to ensure their basic housing needs.
Detail>>Promote new type of urbanization
Market’s decisive role in property market
The guideline on Feb 6 also targeted further improving housing and financial services for lower income groups by establishing a more efficient residential land supply system and optimizing the structure of housing supply.
Related departments should strengthen regulations on the commercial housing market, allowing the market to play a decisive role. The guideline also said local governments should encourage migrant workers to purchase houses in small and medium cities near their workplace.
Detail>>Promote modern agriculture
More governance on city planning
Infrastructure construction
According to the guideline issued by the State Council on Feb 6, efforts should be stepped up to strengthen urban underground infrastructure, and reconstruction of the current grid and communication lines.
The guideline also urges speeding up construction of underground pipelines through shantytown renovation, river pollution treatment, and subway construction.
Detail>>Promote new type of urbanization
Comprehensive transportation network
The Feb 6 guideline also urged efforts to speed up building a comprehensive transportation network in urban areas, and push forward the joint development of public transportation such as buses and subways.
Related departments should also further promote the utilization of charging stations to boost the development of new energy cars.
