China is considering revising the current national city layout to the ongoing macro economic control, according to Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.

The State Council on Wednesday held a meeting to draft the country's overall city planning, aiming at streamlining impractical city layouts in some regions which have caused some over-heated economic growth.

"The city layout has played an active role in limiting the over-heated real estate industry in some cities," said Zeng. But the current national city layout still has some problems in the development model and overall distribution.

The new city layout should attach more importance to the level of urbanization, the human-orientated demand, the environment protection, the harmonious development between urban areas and rural areas, said he.

Zeng stressed that the new layout should follow the principle of step by step, saving farmland and other resources, and rational distribution.

In addition, the new layout should include the consideration on early warning and quick response for public emergencies, said Zeng.

He pointed out that the mayor should be the one responsible for the formulation of city layout, which is the priority of the city management.

During the drafting period of the city layout, more public opinions should be heard in various ways and latest scientific technologies should be introduced, added Zeng.

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2005)