China plans to hear how developed countries handle urbanization at a forum to be held from Dec.6 to 7.

Nearly 200 Chinese and foreign experts, government officials and entrepreneurs will exchange views on China's burgeoning urbanization, which now confronts many problems, at the forum, said forum spokesman Liu Xudun Monday.

He said these problems include: What's the proper speed of urbanization? How to care for the lives of farmers that lose their land in urbanization? How to calculate the sustainable power of available resources? and How to develop scientific and practical urban development programs?

The number of farmers that have lost their farmland has exceeded 40 million in China. The number is still growing at a rate of 2 million a year. After the land loss, the farmers have to rethink about employment and social security.

"Developed countries have accumulated much experience in handling urbanization. We should draw upon their experience to avoid unnecessary mistakes," said Liu.

The forum is jointly sponsored by the staff of the overseas edition of the People's Daily, China's leading newspaper, and the China Society for Strategy and Management Research.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2005)