Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development: We must place urban renewal in an even more prominent position and ensure the coordinated implementation of a series of projects that benefit people’s livelihoods, enhance safety, and promote development.

On July 17, the Party Group of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the CPC held an expanded study session of its theoretical study center group to convey and study the spirit of the Central Conference on Urban Work and to discuss ways to implement these guidelines in the fields of housing and urban-rural development. Ni Hong, Secretary of the Ministry’s Party Group and Minister, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech.

The meeting emphasized that studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the Central Urban Work Conference is a major political task for the current and coming period. The national housing and urban-rural development system must serve as the main force and vanguard in thoroughly implementing the spirit of the conference and firmly uphold it. Uphold the “Two Establishments” and resolutely practice the “Two Safeguards.” Deeply study and grasp the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches. Firmly establish and put into practice the concept of a people-centered city. Be pragmatic and down-to-earth, prioritize action above all else, and resolutely implement all decisions and deployments made by the Party Central Committee. Strive to build a modern, people-centered city that is innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and smart.

The meeting held that, at this critical stage of fully building a modern socialist country, the Party Central Committee has once again convened the Central Urban Work Conference, a milestone event in China’s urban development process. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech scientifically addressed major theoretical and practical questions—such as who urban development is for, who it relies on, what kind of cities we should build, and how we should build them—thus outlining a grand blueprint for constructing modern, people-centered cities. The speech is highly political, ideological, strategic, and guiding; it represents the Party’s latest achievement in innovative theories on urban work, and it clearly points out the direction forward and provides fundamental guidance for carrying out urban work in the new era and on the new journey.

The meeting held that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China’s urban landscape has undergone historic changes, urban functions have achieved a historic leap, and urban development has attained historic accomplishments—fundamentally because General Secretary Xi Jinping has provided the guiding direction and set the course, and fundamentally because we have been guided scientifically by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. To do a good job in urban development, we must conscientiously implement the overall requirements clearly articulated by the Party Central Committee, firmly anchor ourselves to the goal of building a modern, people-centered city, grasp the theme of promoting high-quality urban development, adhere to the main line of urban development focused on quality and substance, make good use of the crucial lever of urban renewal, and vigorously advance the optimization of urban structures, the transformation of growth drivers, the enhancement of urban quality, the green transition, the continuation of cultural heritage, and the improvement of governance efficiency. We must also firmly safeguard the bottom line of urban safety and blaze a new path toward urban modernization with Chinese characteristics.

The meeting emphasized the need to consistently and thoroughly implement [the policy/plan]. “Respect one principle and coordinate five aspects”—deeply grasp the core essence of connotative development, proactively adapt to changes in the stage of urban development, adhere to the important principles of “five shifts” and “five greater emphases,” and, in accordance with the critical requirements of “five profound understandings,” fully and accurately implement the strategic plan of “one optimization and six major constructions.”

The meeting emphasized the need to put the people-centered urban development philosophy into practice, adhering to the principles of soliciting needs from the people, addressing their concerns, relying on the people, and gauging effectiveness by the people. We must focus on promptly resolving the urgent, difficult, and pressing issues faced by the public, accelerate efforts to address shortcomings and strengthen weak areas, and promote coordinated development of good housing, well-maintained residential communities, thriving neighborhoods, and vibrant urban districts. The “Four Good” initiative makes cities warmer and transforms them into happy homes that everyone aspires to live in.

The meeting emphasized placing urban renewal in an even more prominent position and ensuring the coordinated implementation of a series of projects aimed at improving people's livelihoods, enhancing safety, and promoting development. We should accelerate the establishment of a new model for real estate development and steadily advance the renovation of urban villages and dilapidated housing. Let’s build complete communities to better care for and protect residents. “An elderly population and a young one.” Promote the construction of new urban infrastructure and accelerate the renovation and upgrading of aging pipelines. Advance the construction of urban infrastructure lifeline safety projects, and coordinate urban flood control systems with measures to address urban waterlogging. Continue to promote the sorting of domestic waste. Improve the system for protecting and inheriting historical and cultural heritage, refine urban appearance management regulations, strengthen architectural design management, and fully reflect the continuity of cultural traditions, thereby shaping urban features that embody both Chinese aesthetic values and contemporary trends.

The meeting emphasized the need to place greater emphasis on investment in governance and make solid progress. Employing “embroidery-like” meticulous efforts to advance the modernization of urban governance systems and governance capabilities. We will shift the focus of governance and allocate supporting resources downward to the grassroots level, leveraging mechanisms such as “whistle-blowing and reporting” and “immediate response to complaints” to swiftly address and efficiently resolve the urgent, difficult, and troubling issues faced by the public. We will promote smart and efficient urban governance by vigorously advancing “one-network access for government services,” “integrated online management of urban operations,” and “one-network sharing of public services,” thereby making urban operations more efficient and people’s daily lives more convenient.

The meeting called for the national housing and urban-rural development system to earnestly align its thinking and actions with the Party Central Committee’s decisions and deployments, organically integrating the study, publicity, and implementation of the spirit of the Central Urban Work Conference with the effective advancement of the reform tasks set forth at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and with making every effort to ensure... We should closely integrate the preparation of the 15th Five-Year Plan with the implementation of the Party’s major decisions and deployments made at this meeting. We must delve deeply into understanding the essence and achieve a thorough integration of ideas, and we must demonstrate a sense of responsibility and commitment to delivering tangible results. By earnestly putting into practice the major arrangements made at the meeting, we can make new contributions to fully advancing the cause of building a strong country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization.

Members of the Party Group and Chief Engineers attended the meeting, as did responsible officials from the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Team stationed at the Ministry, heads of various departments and bureaus within the Ministry’s organs, heads of directly affiliated units, and responsible officials from associations under the Ministry’s administration.

Put the concept of a people-centered city into practice. Grasp it well "Four Good" Development

The expanded study session of the Party Group Theory Learning Center of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the CPC emphasized that the concept of a “people-centered city” clearly defines the values and methodology for urban development, scientifically answers the fundamental question of who urban construction and development should rely on and for whom it is aimed, and serves as the guiding principle for urban planning, construction, and governance in China. We must adhere to the principles of soliciting needs from the people, relieving their concerns, relying on the people, and gauging effectiveness by the people. We must deeply grasp the goal and positioning of building a modern, people-centered city, consciously practice the development philosophy centered on the people, and uphold tailored approaches and categorized guidance, while comprehensively promoting the development of good housing, excellent residential communities, thriving neighborhoods, and vibrant urban districts. The “Four Good” initiative will accelerate the development of a new real estate model, create an upgraded version of “Made in China,” and focus on building modern, people-centered cities that are innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and smart.

Put effort into building a good house. Place greater emphasis on improving quality by systematically strengthening efforts across standards, design, materials, construction, and maintenance, to build safe, comfortable, green, and smart homes for the people. Transform new homes into high-quality homes and renovate old homes into high-quality homes as well.

Put effort into building the community well. Continuously advance the renovation of old residential communities in urban areas, implement initiatives to enhance property management service quality, make concerted efforts to address challenges such as installing elevators, providing parking spaces, and setting up charging facilities, and persistently promote household waste sorting to improve the living environment in these communities and better meet residents’ daily needs.

Dedicate effort to building a strong community. Focusing on convenience, benefits for the people, and public safety, we will build comprehensive communities that are safe and healthy, well-equipped, and managed in an orderly manner, thereby providing better care and protection for residents. “An elderly population and young children”—speed up efforts to address shortcomings in public service facilities. Continuously increase the availability of public spaces such as parks, green areas, sports and fitness facilities, and leisure and recreational venues, and create high-quality streets and vibrant neighborhoods.

Devote effort to building the urban district well. Promote the construction of new urban infrastructure, accelerate the renovation and upgrading of aging pipelines, build integrated utility tunnels tailored to local conditions, advance the construction of urban infrastructure lifeline safety projects, and coordinate urban flood control systems with measures for addressing urban waterlogging. Improve the system for protecting and passing on historical and cultural heritage, refine urban aesthetic management regulations, strengthen architectural design oversight, fully reflect the continuity of cultural traditions, and shape urban landscapes that embody both Chinese aesthetic values and contemporary trends.

Carry out urban renewal with high quality.

The study (expanded) meeting of the Party Group Theoretical Study Center of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the CPC emphasized the need to deeply grasp the strategic orientation of quality-driven urban development and to enhance the quality of urban development in a more targeted manner. We must carry out urban renewal with high quality, adhering to the principle of "first conducting health checks, then proceeding with renewal." We should identify, from a problem-oriented perspective, the urgent, difficult, and troubling issues that directly affect the people; and from a goal-oriented perspective, pinpoint the shortcomings and weak links that undermine the city’s competitiveness, carrying capacity, and sustainable development. The issues identified through these health checks should serve as the focal points for urban renewal.

The meeting called for the careful implementation of the "Opinions of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council on Continuously Promoting Urban Renewal," establishing and improving mechanisms for implementing urban renewal, preparing specialized urban renewal plans, enhancing the renovation and utilization of existing buildings, advancing the renovation and upgrading of old residential areas in towns and cities, promoting the construction of comprehensive communities, and driving the renewal and transformation of old neighborhoods, old industrial zones, and urban villages. It also emphasized the need to improve urban functions, strengthen the construction and renovation of urban infrastructure, restore urban ecosystems, and protect and carry forward the city’s historical and cultural heritage. We must keep up the momentum year after year, tackling one task after another, and ensure the coordinated implementation of a series of projects aimed at improving people’s livelihoods, ensuring public safety, and fostering sustainable development.

Promote urban governance with high efficiency.

The expanded study session of the Party Group’s Theory Learning Center of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the CPC emphasized the need to shift the focus of urban work toward greater emphasis on governance investment, promote urban governance in a highly efficient manner, innovate governance concepts, models, and approaches, and make solid progress. With “embroidery-like” meticulous effort, we will accelerate the refinement and improvement of urban governance laws and regulations, and promote the modernization of urban governance systems and governance capabilities.

The meeting called for shifting the focus of governance and allocating supporting resources downward to the grassroots level. We must uphold and further develop the ethos of the new era. The “Fengqiao Experience” strives to resolve conflicts and disputes at the grassroots level and foster harmony and stability from the ground up. It effectively balances the relationship between a proactive government and an efficient market, leveraging mechanisms such as “whistleblowing and reporting” and “immediate response to complaints” to swiftly address and efficiently solve the urgent, difficult, and troubling issues faced by the public. We are also promoting smart and efficient urban governance. By fully harnessing next-generation information technologies—including big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence—we are vigorously advancing “one-stop online services” for government affairs, “integrated online management” of urban operations, and “one-stop online access” to public services, thereby making urban operations more efficient and people’s daily lives more convenient.