Urbanization in China: Since 1978 中国城镇化三十年

Urban population in the world has been growing rapidly over the past 50 years, a trend which is estimated to continue unabated. As the largest emerging economy in the world, China has witnessed the fast urbanization of its 1.3 billion people. Cities have served as engines of its rigorous economic development. They have undergone profound economic, social and structural transformation and have become not only consumers of imported commodities, but also producers exporting their manufactured goods worldwide. Nevertheless, Chinese cities are also facing many substantial challenges in terms of sustainable development. The book, written by renown urban scholars at Tongji University, has documented as well as evaluated the practices followed in China in the formulation and implementation of policies by both the central and local governments to facilitate the urbanization process, including their successes, setbacks and lessons learned. The introduction of this new book to the Conference participants will enable both developed and developing countries to understand and share the ways and means that have been adopted in China to address the challenges of sustainable urbanization facing worldwide, and eventually work together to enhance the role of cities in improving human conditions in this fast urbanizing world.