The State Council has approved the overall plan (2011-2020) for Taizhou city in East China’s Jiangsu province.

Taizhou is a national historical and cultural city, and an important port city in the Yangtze River Delta. The plan urged implementing the development concept featuring innovation, coordination, green development, openness and sharing.

Coordinated urban and rural development was urged in the designated area of 639 square kilometers, with extra attention to be paid to develop the counties and major towns with potential, and optimize the overall layout of villages and towns.

According to the plan, by 2020, the Taizhou government will control the population of permanent urban residents to 1.2 million and limit urban construction land to 125 square kilometers. No new districts or development zones of any kind will be allowed outside of the approved area.

Newly added construction land should be strictly controlled, and underground space should be explored and utilized. Efforts should also be made to improve the land usage rate and protect basic farmland.

The State Council also urged the Taizhou government to improve urban infrastructure, establishing a comprehensive transportation system and promoting the construction of urban parking lots.

Other city infrastructure, such as water supply and waste disposal systems, should be developed with a coordinated plan. Disaster prevention and reduction work should also be reinforced, the circular said.

The development of heavy-polluting industries should be strictly controlled, and protection of special ecological function areas, such as forest parks, ecological forestry, wetlands and water resources should be enhanced to build an energy-saving and environment-friendly city.

The State Council also called for the development of public services concerning education, medical care and municipal administration, and accelerating the renovation of shantytowns and dilapidated buildings to create a resident-friendly city.

Efforts should also be made to protect historic culture and natural reserves, and emphasize the ancient city features of Taizhou in the development process.