Beijing vows to take up the glamour of an international metropolis
before 2005 while greatly improving the quality of life for
its people, promised leading officials of the Chinese capital.
Residents' concerns
are now the priority in Beijing's development strategies,
Shen Baochang, director of the Beijing Municipal Development
Planning Commission, said yesterday at an international press
conference concerning the Fourth Session of the 11th Beijing
Municipal People's Congress.
According to Shen,
Beijing is the only Chinese city publishing the draft of its
10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05) so that its people can make
suggestions for improvements.
For 15 days after
the draft was published on December 23, the commission collected
over 200 suggestions and received many interested groups.
"Although
we cannot reflect everyone's opinions in the final version,
we have done our best and given feedback to all those kind
enough to contribute their thoughts," said Xin Shaojun,
deputy director of the commission in charge of drafting the
plan.
Xin believed that
on the authorized plan, local people could expect to enjoy
more job opportunities, higher incomes, better social security,
more spacious housing and a healthier environment.
To achieve these
things, Beijing will speed up the renovation of its old urban
area, where there are many crammed and shabby one-story houses.
The 3 million square meters of these houses now still in existence
after more than a decade's renovation are expected to be replaced
by modern residential buildings in the next five years.
When this has been
done, local people's per capita dwelling area will be increased
from today's roughly 15 square meters to at least 18.
As the renovation
work will mainly take place in the southern part of Beijing,
where there are many historical and cultural relics, many
people are worried the work will mean the destruction of those
treasures.
Therefore, Shan
Jixiang, Beijing's leading urban planner, has promised that
Beijing will maintain its traditional charm and culture, and
that the renovation work will be well planned and protect
the relics.
(China Daily 02/07/2001)
|