Three new metropolitan areas have been established along China's long eastern coast in the northern, central and southern regions, respectively.

The three metropolitan areas will serve as economic centers with the aim of boosting the development of their surrounding areas.

The three areas include the group of cities around the Bohai Bay, the Yangtze River Delta and the Zhujiang River Delta.

Nearly one hundred top-level experts and scholars from home and abroad concluded in the China Urban Development Report (2001-2002) that the areas are being established to expedite China's urbanization process.

Published in Beijing on Thursday, the report was prepared by the team of experts and is the first to focus on urban development.

Niu Wenyuan, head of the research team for the sustainable development strategy under the supervision of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China should establish a three-dimensional framework for its urban development.

According to Niu, the framework should include three central metropolitan areas, seven economic belts, and a number of central cities selected for their specific features.

The three metropolitan areas have already been formed. According to Niu, the metropolitan area plays a very important role in the national and regional economy. Not only must there be a sound investment environment and improved urban management, but also well-developed suburban areas which serve as regional economic centers.

Academician He Zuoxiu of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said that, in addition to the three economic centers, China should also develop some short-distance economic belts connecting neighboring cities, such as that which exists between Shanghai and Nanjing.

A number of centrally-located cities should also be established, selected for their distinctive economic or tourism-related features, said the academician.

According to the report, upon completion of the entire framework, these areas will be inhabited by over half of the Chinese population, with 80 percent of national GDP, 90 percent of national industry output value and 95 percent of China's total trade volume produced there.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2002)