The daunting challenges of urbanization|Cover Story Updated: 2013-06-14 09:33 By Shen Wei (China Daily) But huge opportunities also beckon for Chinese and European companies China is witnessing a huge surge in urbanization as millions move from rural areas to bustling urban centers. Migration to urban centers and the physical expansion of cities and metropolitan areas in China is putting immense pressure on energy resources, environment, health, public funds and basic facilities' services. Urbanization in China still lags behind Europe, where more than 70 percent of the population lives in cities. The European Union and its 27 member states have faced or continue to face some of the similar challenges of city management. The EU-China Urbanization Partnership fits with the strategic development targets included in both the Europe 2020 Strategy and China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15). With an emphasis on "higher quality growth" and "inclusive growth", urbanization is clearly a main feature of the 12th Five-Year Plan.
India's urban awakening: Building inclusive cities, sustaining economic growth India has a young and rapidly growing population—a potential demographic dividend. But India needs thriving cities if that dividend is to pay out. New MGI research estimates that cities could generate 70 percent of net new jobs created to 2030, produce around 70 percent of Indian GDP, and drive a near fourfold increase in per capita incomes across the nation. Podcast Confronting India's urbanization challenge DownloadRichard Dobbs and Shirish Sankhe discuss obstacles and opportunities for India's cities in the coming decades. Handled well, India can reap significant benefits from urbanization. Surging growth and employment in cities will be a powerful magnet. India has the potential to unlock many new growth markets in its cities, many of them not traditionally associated with India, including infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, education, and recreation. Cities can also deliver a higher quality of life.
Asia's most 'innovative' city is... Singapore's skyline and iconic Merlion on March 28, 2012. The city-state is Asia's most innovative city for its ability to attract global talent and high livability, says Solidiance, a strategy consulting firm. Sydney ranked as Asia-Pacific's second most innovative city thanks to its global integration, a skilled talent base and technological advancement. Melbourne ranks as the third most innovative city in the Asia-Pacific because of its superiority in the human talent category. Half of the city's population comes from immigrant backgrounds. Hong Kong ranks as Asia-Pacific's fourth most innovative city thanks to its technological and regulatory leadership, says marketing firm Solidiance Auckland takes the number five spot largely on its ability to attract human talent -- and its tolerance for diversity. Solidiance ranks Tokyo as Asia-Pacific's sixth most innovative city.. Seoul is Asia's seventh most innovative city, says Solidiance. Busan is Asia's ninth most innovative city.
China premier calls for 'human focus' to urbanization plan BEIJING (Reuters) - China's premier, Li Keqiang, wants his plan to turn more Chinese into city dwellers to be "humanity-centered", focusing on quality of life and the environment and driven by job creation, the official China Daily newspaper reported on Sunday. Li, who took office this year, has an ambitious plan to boost China's urban population by 400 million over the next decade, a key plank in a reform effort to restructure the economy away from credit and export driven growth to one where consumers provide the main impetus. But the plan faces huge obstacles, including a lack of infrastructure in cities to deal with an influx of new residents and the cost of building it, which has led to concern that a spending binge could push up already high local debt levels and inflate a property bubble. The need to reform a complex system of residency registration that controls the benefits residents can enjoy is also a sticking point. (Reporting by Jonathan Standing)