International   

China launches pilot reforms in all sectors in two cities

CHENGDU: China has selected southwestern Chongqing and Chengdu as pilot reform cities targeting coordinated rural and urban development through reforms in all sectors, official sources have said.

A document issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the top economic planner, urged the two cities to take the initiatives in pushing forward comprehensive reforms to achieve coordinated and balanced development between urban and rural areas.

The NDRC also asked the two cities to lay out their detailed plans for the experimental areas as soon as possible.

The State Council, or the Cabinet, has approved the establishment of the pilot reform cities, it said.

``The selection of the two pilot cities is necessary for us to explore a coordinated urban and rural development model in central and western China,'' said Yang Weimin, an official with the NDRC.

``The final aim of coordinated rural and urban development is to make rural farmers and migrant workers able to enjoy the same rights, public services and living conditions as urban residents do,'' Mr. Yang said.

China has seen rapid economic growth since it began the reform and opening up policies in 1978, but a wide income gap between rural and urban areas also arises.

The per capita net income of farmers was 3,587 yuan ($471) last year, while the per capita disposable income of urban residents was 11,759 yuan, about 3.2 times that of farmers.

In Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, the per capita income of farmers was 4,905 yuan while that of urban residents was 2.6 times that of farmers.

The two pilot cities have pledged to carry out reforms in such areas as household registration systems, land management, social security and administration.

— Xinhua

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Call for sectarian unity after shrine attack
"West bullying Sri Lanka"
A U.S. rethink on support to Musharraf?
E.U. to share data to combat crime
MP killed in Beirut blast
Peres elected Israeli President
China launches pilot reforms in all sectors in two cities
Space station gets a new set of solar wings
The case of a President's vanishing watch
Banks indicted in Parmalat collapse
Chinese demarches to 4 nations
Fashion designer pleads not guilty to new charges

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu