BEIJING — China will carry out pilot child-friendly city schemes in approximately 100 cities with a population of over 1 million and a solid economic base, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Oct 15.

In advancing the construction of child-friendly cities, local governments should exert their roles to explore differentiated paths and models, said Ou Xiaoli, an official with the NDRC.

The country will use its central budget to lead and motivate local governments in the process, Ou added.

Local governments should enshrine the concept of being "child-friendly" in the advancement of new urbanization and the provision of equal public services, and raise the quality of services in education, healthcare, culture and sports, Ou said.

In innovating urban public facilities, local governments should plan and build specialized venues and facilities for children, and transform public spaces and facilities to make them suitable for children, he added.

He also stressed the importance of efforts to introduce social capital into the field to offer diversified and multi-level services.