China's Central Government and State Council set the tone: advancing the construction of "good homes" and comprehensive communities!

 

On August 28, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council released the "Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development of Cities." The document emphasizes advancing energy conservation and carbon reduction in the production sector. It calls for implementing initiatives to enhance industrial energy and water efficiency, while promoting advanced, green, and low-carbon technologies and equipment. Additionally, it highlights strengthening control over high-energy-consuming and high-emission projects, and facilitating the orderly phasing out of outdated production capacities. A carbon footprint labeling and certification system will be established for key products. Meanwhile, a centralized energy supply system will be developed within industrial parks, enabling comprehensive, coordinated treatment of wastewater, waste heat, and solid waste. Finally, the document underscores the vigorous development of green buildings, accelerating research and application of innovative building materials, and driving the adoption of ultra-low-energy and low-carbon construction practices. Scaled-up development Increase the intensity of energy-saving renovations for existing buildings.

 

Key Policy Points and Interpretation

 

This "Opinion" is a guiding, programmatic document for urban development in China's new era, with its core focus on shifting urban growth from "incremental expansion" to "enhancing the quality and efficiency of existing assets" and "intensive, inward-looking development." Notably, several key policies—both directly and indirectly—point toward improving housing quality and driving the green, low-carbon transformation of the construction sector.

 

1. Clearly propose building "good homes" (key provision: Article 8):

 

Definitions and Standards: At the central policy level, the concept of "good housing" has been clearly put forward, with its standards defined as "safe, comfortable, green, and smart." This represents a comprehensive set of requirements for high-quality housing in the new era.

 

End-to-end enhancement: Emphasizing "comprehensive improvement across the entire chain—housing design, construction, maintenance, and service levels"—this means that every stage of the process, from initial design to long-term operation and maintenance, must meet high standards.

 

Key focus areas: Closely integrate the construction of "good-quality housing" with initiatives such as "complete communities," "urban renewal" (especially the transformation of urban villages, aging residential area upgrades, and renovation of dilapidated and dangerous housing), and the development of "new-type industrial communities."

 

Good house Series Interpretation Column

 

2. Building a New Model for Real Estate Development (Key Provision: Article 8):

 

Clearly define the transformation direction: “Accelerating the establishment of a new real estate development model” is the most central guidance on the real estate industry outlined in the Opinions. Its meaning runs deep, aiming to dismantle the traditional “high-debt, high-leverage, high-turnover” model.

Demand-driven: The core goal of the new model is to "better meet the public's essential and diverse needs for housing improvement," emphasizing a focus on genuine demand from the outset.

 

Practical approach: The new model is closely aligned with "good housing" development, urban renewal (revitalizing existing stock), and the provision of affordable housing—particularly the child-friendly renovations implied by "strengthening inclusive childcare services," as well as accelerating age-friendly upgrades integrated with public housing initiatives. It also emphasizes work-life balance through the seamless integration of industry and urban development.

 

3. Vigorously promote green buildings, ultra-low-energy buildings, and low-carbon buildings (key provision: Article 11):

 

Scaled-up development: Clearly stated are the directives to "vigorously promote green building" and "drive the large-scale development of ultra-low-energy and low-carbon buildings." The choice of wording carries unprecedented strength—calling for "large-scale" development means this is no longer limited to pilot projects or demonstrations, but is set to become the mainstream direction for future growth.

 

Driven by technological innovation: "Accelerating the research and application of new building materials" is the key support, emphasizing how material innovation can help achieve energy-saving and consumption-reduction goals.

 

Prioritizing both incremental growth and existing assets: While promoting green building for new constructions, "we will intensify energy-saving renovations of existing buildings," thereby covering the stock market.

 

Policy Coordination: This requirement is placed under the section "Promoting Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction in the Production Sector," aligning synergistically with policies such as industrial energy efficiency and circular transformation of industrial parks, thereby highlighting the critical role of the building sector in the broader green and low-carbon transition.

 

The impact on the development of "good houses," green buildings, and ultra-low-energy consumption buildings

 

1. Top-Level Promotion and Policy Endorsement: The "Opinions" clearly outline at the highest national level the development direction and core standards for "good-quality housing" and "green, ultra-low-energy, and low-carbon buildings," providing robust policy momentum and legitimate backing for related sectors. This will significantly boost industry confidence and guide resource allocation effectively.

 

2. Accelerated R&D and Industrial Chain Upgrading:

 

Building Material Revolution: “Accelerating the research and application of new building materials” is key—high-performance insulation materials, energy-efficient doors and windows, advanced fresh-air heat recovery systems, low-carbon/zero-carbon building materials (such as carbon-sequestering concrete and bio-based materials), building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) technology, as well as smart home and building control systems, are all set to see explosive growth in demand and R&D investment.

 

Revolutionizing Construction Methods: “Developing intelligent construction” (Article 4) aligns closely with the demands for high-quality housing and green buildings. The application of technologies such as prefabricated construction, modular building, digital design (BIM), and robotic construction will deepen and expand further, helping to enhance precision, minimize waste, and boost efficiency.

 

3. Significant Expansion of Market Size and Structural Optimization:

 

Incremental City Market mainstreaming: New incremental projects such as market-oriented residential homes and affordable housing will increasingly adopt the "good house" standards—particularly meeting green and energy-efficient requirements—as a strict threshold or the market's dominant choice. Ultra-low-energy buildings will transition from being "pioneering" initiatives to becoming widely adopted in the market.

 

Huge potential in the existing market: The policy requirements for large-scale renovations of aging residential communities, urban villages, and dilapidated housing, as well as the initiative to "intensify energy-saving upgrades in existing buildings," have opened up an exceptionally broad market for the application of green and energy-efficient technologies in existing structures. Energy-saving renovations of existing buildings are shifting from individual projects toward systematic, district-based transformations.

 

4. Deep Integration of the "Wisdom" Element: “Good homes” explicitly incorporate “smart” standards, which will drive the deep integration of technologies such as AIoT, big data, and cloud computing into residential and public buildings. This will enable intelligent energy management, healthy environment monitoring, safety alerts, convenient services, and more—ultimately enhancing both the living experience and operational efficiency.

 

The Impact on the Real Estate Industry

 

1. Profound Transformation of Industry Development Models (Core Impact):

 

From "finance-driven" to "product-power-driven": The core of the new model is to build a development approach centered on "high-quality products" (safe, comfortable, eco-friendly, and smart) as the key competitive advantage—replacing the previous reliance on land appreciation and financial leverage. Enterprises must enhance their capabilities across the entire value chain, from product R&D and design to construction and operations & maintenance.

 

From "incremental expansion" to "stock-based operations": The policy focus is on stock renewal (urban regeneration and redevelopment) and refined operations (enhancing property services and integrating community-based amenities). Real estate companies need to possess robust capabilities in revitalizing, upgrading, and sustainably managing existing assets. Meanwhile, financial instruments like REITs are increasingly vital for unlocking the potential of these存量 assets.

 

From "single development" to "integrated services": Developers need to transform into "urban integrated service providers," offering not only physical spaces but also long-term services rooted in housing and community needs—such as property management, community-based commerce, elderly care and childcare, energy management, and more—while striving for sustainable operational profitability.

 

From "high turnover" to "high quality": Pursuing speed and scale will give way to focusing on quality and long-term value. Development cycles may lengthen, placing greater demands on a company’s financial strength, cost-control capabilities, and ability to implement meticulous management practices.

 

2. Industry Fragmentation and Rising Concentration:

 

Increased technological barriers: Large, leading real estate companies and specialized, technology-driven construction firms—those equipped with core technologies and integration capabilities in green building, ultra-low-energy consumption architecture, smart construction, and intelligent communities—will gain a significant competitive edge.

 

Increased funding threshold: R&D investment, high-quality construction, and long-term operations all require stronger financial strength and robust financing capabilities. As a result, the survival space for SMEs will be squeezed, potentially accelerating mergers and acquisitions as well as industry consolidation.

 

Professional competency requirements: The demand for specialized talent in green and low-carbon technologies, smart technologies, refined operations, and customer service has surged.

 

3. Product Structure and Regional Layout Adjustments:

 

Product Type: Green, low-carbon, and smart high-quality housing (good homes) are becoming the mainstream; the importance of affordable housing construction—especially renovations tailored to aging-friendly and child-friendly needs—is on the rise; and innovative industrial communities, business districts, and other integrated work-and-living projects are poised for growth.

 

Region Selection: Investment priorities will increasingly focus on core city clusters and metropolitan areas—specifically their central regions—that continue to attract population inflows and are backed by genuine demand (aligning with the goals of "strengthening and refining core functions," "controlling the size of megacities," and "enhancing the capacity of medium- and small-sized cities"). Meanwhile, cities experiencing population outflows are under growing pressure to undergo transformation.

 

4. Industrial Chain Restructuring and Value Chain Reshaping:

 

Upstream: The status of suppliers offering green building materials, energy-efficient equipment, and smart home solutions is rising, and deepening collaboration with developers—through EPC models and strategic centralized procurement—will become the trend. Upstream companies with strong R&D innovation capabilities will be the ones to benefit.

 

Midstream: Traditional construction companies must transition toward smart construction and green building practices. Enterprises with strong capabilities in technology integration and general contracting will see their competitive advantages expand. Meanwhile, design firms need to strengthen their expertise in green, low-carbon design and BIM application.

 

Downstream: Property service enterprises are embracing the policy opportunity presented by the "Service Quality Enhancement Initiative," but their value now extends far beyond basic services—it now includes the operation of smart community platforms, energy-saving management, and home-based elderly care, among other value-added services. These offerings have become a critical component in the full lifecycle management of "good homes." Meanwhile, specialized Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) are playing a prominent role in the existing building renovation market.

 

5. Strengthened Risk Management:

 

Safety bottom line: “Establishing a full-lifecycle safety management system for buildings” (Article 14) and requirements such as “strictly limiting ultra-high-rise buildings” will significantly increase property developers’ responsibilities and cost investments in building quality and safety.

 

Financial Risk: The transition to new models, technological investments, and the management of existing assets all require a robust financial strategy. "Resolutely curbing newly incurred local government implicit debt" (Article 6) also indirectly restricts certain models that rely heavily on cooperation with local government platforms. Enterprises need to optimize their financial structures and explore diversified financing channels, such as green bonds and REITs.

 

Compliance Risk: Regulations in areas such as environmental protection (carbon footprint), energy consumption, green standards, and consumer rights protection will become increasingly stringent, leading to rising compliance costs.

 

Summary

 

This "Opinion" marks a historic turning point in China's urban construction and real estate development. Its promotion of "good housing," green buildings, and ultra-low-energy-consumption structures is not an isolated technical policy—it is instead firmly embedded within the broader framework of high-quality urban development and the establishment of a new model for real estate growth.

 

On Building Quality and Performance: The policy will systematically and compulsorily enhance the safety, comfort, sustainability, and smart features of both new and existing buildings, driving green, low-carbon construction from a "demonstration phase" toward "large-scale implementation," and profoundly transforming the way buildings are designed, built, and operated.

 

To the real estate industry: The policy will Fundamentally reshaping the industry's development logic , accelerating the industry's shift from a finance-driven model focused on "scale and speed" to a product-driven, quality-and-efficiency-focused approach supported by robust long-term operational services. The industry will undergo a profound reshuffle, equipped with Core technology, strong capital, exceptional operational capabilities, and brand reputation The companies will prevail in the new cycle.

 

Businesses need to embrace change, increase investment in science and technology research and development, and master core green, low-carbon, and smart technologies. They must also enhance product quality, creating offerings and services that truly meet the standards of a "good home." Additionally, companies should strengthen their internal capabilities by refining management practices and adopting sustainable financial models. Finally, they should expand their expertise, transitioning into comprehensive urban service providers.

 

This "Opinion" has outlined a clear blueprint for China to build "good homes" and embark on a profound, green, and low-carbon transformation in the construction sector—while also pointing the way toward the industry's much-needed rebirth. This is an era where challenges and opportunities coexist; those who embrace the trend and proactively adapt will ultimately secure a thriving future.

 

The original document reads as follows:

 

The CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Promoting High-Quality Development of Cities

(August 15, 2025)

 

Cities are vital platforms for modernization and essential spaces that enrich the lives of our people. China’s urbanization is transitioning from a period of rapid growth to one of steady development, as urban growth shifts from large-scale incremental expansion to a focus on enhancing the quality and efficiency of existing urban assets. To accelerate this transformation in urban development approaches and drive high-quality urban growth, the following recommendations are hereby put forward.

 

I. General Requirements

 

Uphold Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guiding principle, deeply implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, comprehensively carry forward General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on urban work, and earnestly follow the guiding principles laid out at the Central Urban Work Conference. We will firmly uphold and strengthen the CPC’s overall leadership, diligently practice the people-centered city philosophy, adhere to the overarching principle of pursuing progress while maintaining stability, and ensure that strategies are tailored to local conditions and guided by category. Our goal is to build modern, people-oriented cities that are innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and smart—cities that embody high-quality development. To achieve this vision, we will prioritize urban development that emphasizes substance over mere expansion, using urban renewal as a key driver to vigorously promote urban structural optimization, economic momentum shifts, quality enhancements, green transformations, cultural heritage preservation, and more efficient governance. Above all, we will firmly safeguard the bottom line of urban safety, forging a new path toward urban modernization with Chinese characteristics.

 

In your work, you must: shift the urban development philosophy to place greater emphasis on people-centered approaches; transform the mode of urban development to prioritize compactness and efficiency; reorient the drivers of urban growth toward distinctive, niche-based development; realign the focus of urban efforts by increasing investment in governance; and revamp urban working methods to emphasize integrated planning and coordinated action.

 

The primary goals are: By 2030, significant progress will be made in building a modernized people's city, with policies and systems continuously refined to support high-quality urban development. Meanwhile, the transition from old to new growth drivers will accelerate, significantly enhancing residents' quality of life, deepening the green transformation, strengthening the foundation for urban safety, fully showcasing the city's cultural appeal, and substantially elevating governance standards. By 2035, a modernized people's city will be essentially completed.

 

II. Optimize the Modern Urban System

 

(1) Steadily and orderly promote the integrated development of city clusters and the seamless integration of metropolitan areas into urban centers. Foster modern, networked city clusters and metropolitan regions organized in a clustered or networked manner, thereby establishing a rationally structured, state-of-the-art urban system. Support city clusters such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in their quest to become world-class urban agglomerations. Meanwhile, drive the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle and the Yangtze River Midstream City Cluster to emerge as high-quality growth hubs. Strengthen the role of city clusters and metropolitan areas in the central and western regions, as well as in Northeast China, as vital engines for balanced regional development. Encourage cities within these areas to pursue differentiated yet complementary positioning, enhance infrastructure connectivity, and promote collaborative governance across borders. Additionally, bolster industrial chain collaboration within city clusters, optimizing the division of labor and spatial linkages among them. Vigorously develop robust metropolitan areas, supporting regions with suitable conditions to advance integrated urban-rural development. Establish and refine institutional frameworks for seamless urban integration, deepen reforms aimed at moderately separating economic zones from administrative jurisdictions, and foster efficient, convenient commuting patterns, staggered industrial support systems, and shared access to high-quality public services.

 

(2) Enhance the Comprehensive Competitiveness of Mega- and Super-Mega Cities. Promote mega- and super-mega cities to strengthen and refine their core functions in accordance with the nationally approved functional positioning, while controlling urban sprawl and systematically relocating non-core functions to create a primary engine for high-quality development. Support these cities in advancing institutional innovations tailored to their specific contexts. Additionally, encourage select mega- and super-mega cities to bolster their capacity to attract and allocate global high-end production factors. Back these cities as they establish platforms and bases for scientific and technological innovation, thereby boosting their ability to drive groundbreaking, game-changing R&D breakthroughs. Finally, facilitate provinces with suitable conditions to foster and develop secondary central cities at the provincial level.

 

(3) Enhance the carrying capacity of small and medium-sized cities and county towns. Encourage these cities to dynamically optimize their infrastructure layout and public service provision, aligning with trends in resident population changes, while carefully refining administrative divisions according to established procedures. Promote urbanization construction in a categorized manner, with county towns serving as key platforms, and vigorously boost county-level economies. Develop small towns tailored to local conditions. Timely adjust and expand the economic and social management authority of county-level cities and large towns experiencing rapid population growth and significant economic scale. Facilitate the sustained transformation and development of cities facing ongoing population outflows, as well as resource-based cities. Support border towns in strengthening their capabilities for border stability, population attraction, and secure development. Integrate urban and rural infrastructure planning and public service systems to foster integrated urban-rural development. Continue advancing the process of integrating agricultural migrants into urban life.

 

3. Foster and Strengthen New Drivers for Urban Development

 

(Four) Tailor strategies to each city to boost urban development momentum. Leveraging each city’s unique resource endowments and foundational conditions, carefully nurture an innovative ecosystem and unleash dynamic energy for entrepreneurship and innovation. Strengthen efforts in original innovation and tackling critical core technologies, while fostering synergies between scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation. Strategically advance the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, cultivate and expand emerging industries, and proactively plan and build infrastructure for future-oriented sectors—adapting approaches to local contexts and fostering new forms of productive forces. Accelerate the construction of both international and regional innovation hubs. Deeply implement the National Strategic Emerging Industry Cluster Development Project, and vigorously support the growth of advanced manufacturing clusters. Promote smart construction practices, develop modernized building industry chains, and expedite the transformation and upgrading of the construction sector. Simultaneously, bolster productivity-focused service industries, while addressing gaps and elevating standards in consumer-facing service sectors. Actively nurture new consumption models such as first-launch economies, silver economy initiatives, ice-and-snow economies, and low-altitude economies, creating cutting-edge consumer experiences. Finally, further deepen efforts to build world-class international consumption centers.

 

(5) Unlock the potential of existing urban resources. Conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify the full inventory of urban assets, including buildings, facilities, and land. Repurpose and revitalize aging industrial plants, inefficient office spaces, and underutilized traditional commercial properties—transforming these existing structures to meet evolving needs for functional shifts and mixed-use development. Establish a flexible planning mechanism that aligns with the demands of building function conversion and integrated utilization. Strengthen and standardize the management of existing urban infrastructure assets, enhancing their operational efficiency. Additionally, refine policies governing property rights consolidation, integration, exchange, and registration, thereby unlocking and making more effective use of underperforming urban land resources.

 

(6) Establish a sustainable investment and financing system for urban construction and operations. Fully implement the principal responsibility of local governments, coordinating financial resources from fiscal funds, social capital, and financial institutions. For projects involving critical safety concerns and essential public services, the central government will increase support through special-purpose transfer payments, with appropriate subsidies provided via investments within the central budget. Innovate fiscal and financial policy tools to attract and regulate social capital participation, while steadily advancing utility pricing reforms in a prudent manner. Strengthen medium- and long-term credit supply, leverage the financing functions of the bond and stock markets, and encourage financial institutions such as insurance and trust companies to deliver tailored financial services. Accelerate the reform and transformation of financing platforms, and firmly curb the growth of new local government-related hidden debts.

 

(7) Enhance the city's level of international openness and cooperation. Optimize the city's open environment and services, fostering an internationally oriented urban living space. Develop the city into a world-class integrated transportation hub. Support eligible cities in hosting major diplomatic events and attract influential international organizations to establish themselves locally. In alignment with the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, cultivate a group of international gateway hub cities and regional open-node cities. Strengthen international exchanges and collaborations in the field of human settlements, continuously enhancing the global impact of World Cities Day and the Global Award for Sustainable Urban Development (Shanghai Award).

 

4. Creating High-Quality Urban Living Spaces

 

(8) Systematically promote the development of "good homes" and comprehensive community construction. Accelerate the establishment of a new model for real estate development, better meeting the public's essential housing needs as well as their diverse demands for home improvement. Enhance housing design, construction, maintenance, and service quality across the entire chain, vigorously advancing the creation of safe, comfortable, green, and smart "good homes." Implement initiatives to improve property management service quality. Steadily advance the renovation of urban villages and dilapidated, substandard housing, while supporting residents in independently upgrading or rebuilding their existing homes. Continuously drive forward the transformation of older residential areas in towns and cities. Adhere to integrated planning that aligns population, industry, urban development, and transportation, fostering innovative industrial and business communities. Speed up the construction of comprehensive communities, refine embedded service facilities within urban neighborhoods, and establish convenient, resident-friendly lifestyle zones. Scientifically formulate and implement specialized urban renewal plans, seamlessly integrating urban health assessments with redevelopment efforts, thereby creating an ideal urban environment that is conducive to work, living, leisure, and tourism—ultimately promoting the seamless integration of industry and urban life, as well as achieving a balanced relationship between employment and residential areas.

 

(9) Enhance urban infrastructure. Optimize the layout, structure, and functions of urban infrastructure, while strengthening system integration. Promote efficient utilization of urban underground spaces and refine the city's spatial architecture. Accelerate the construction and renovation of underground utility networks, and因地制宜 (tailor-made to local conditions) develop integrated underground utility tunnels. Strengthen the coverage of fifth-generation mobile communication networks (5G) and gigabit optical networks, optimize the layout of computing power facilities, and advance the development of new types of urban infrastructure. Improve urban water resource allocation and enhance the management system for ensuring reliable water supply. Furthermore, establish a robust, modern, and comprehensive transportation network, boost intercity and intra-city commuting efficiency, refine the layout of transfer and interchange facilities at transportation hubs, and reinforce the development of convenient public amenities such as parking spaces and charging stations.

 

(10) Enhance the quality and balance of public services. Establish a sound, precise, and efficient public employment service system. Improve social security systems for flexible workers, rural migrant workers entering cities, and individuals in new forms of employment. Accelerate the construction and renovation of age-friendly, child-friendly, and barrier-free facilities. Expand the supply of universally accessible elderly care services and promote integrated healthcare and eldercare models. Strengthen the universal childcare service system and vigorously develop integrated early childhood education and care programs. Optimize the allocation of educational resources, implement an action plan to enhance the quality and accessibility of basic education, and advance the development of learning-oriented cities. Vigorously carry out the Medical and Health Foundation Project, build closely-knit medical consortiums, and facilitate the expansion and equitable distribution of high-quality medical resources to lower-tier areas. Develop affordable housing tailored to local conditions. Steadily promote the participation of flexible workers in the housing provident fund system. Strengthen social security measures and provide tiered, categorized social assistance to ensure that no one is left behind on the frontlines of people's livelihoods.

 

V. Promote the green and low-carbon transformation of urban development

 

(11) Promote energy conservation and carbon reduction in the production sector. Implement initiatives to enhance industrial energy and water efficiency, and popularize advanced, green, and low-carbon technologies and equipment. Strengthen control over high-energy-consuming and high-emission projects, and facilitate the orderly phasing out of outdated production capacities. Establish a carbon footprint labeling and certification system for key products. Develop centralized energy supply systems within industrial parks, and drive comprehensive, integrated treatment of wastewater, waste heat, and solid waste. Vigorously advance green building practices, accelerate research and application of innovative building materials, and promote the large-scale development of ultra-low-energy and low-carbon buildings. Additionally, step up efforts to retrofit existing buildings with energy-efficient upgrades.

 

(12) Embrace a green and low-carbon lifestyle. Deeply implement the national water-saving initiative and comprehensively advance the development of water-efficient cities. Promote clean heating solutions for winter in northern regions. Encourage the use of energy-saving and low-carbon household products, while reducing consumption of single-use consumer goods and packaging materials. Continue to actively promote the "Clean Plate Campaign." Further advance urban waste sorting, fostering seamless integration between sorting facilities and recycling centers for renewable resources. Prioritize the development of public transportation systems in cities and encourage green, low-carbon modes of travel.

 

(13) Strengthen urban ecological and environmental governance. Enhance the implementation of ecological and environmental zoning management. Deeply advance urban ecological restoration projects. Improve and expand the network system of urban parks and greenways, develop pocket parks, and promote open access to green spaces for shared use. Drive coordinated reductions in atmospheric pollutants across key cities and their surrounding areas, continuously improving air quality. Intensify efforts to tackle urban noise pollution and cooking fume emissions. Step up measures to address emerging contaminants such as antibiotics and microplastics. Promote the resourceful utilization and proper disposal of construction waste. Ensure full coverage of urban sewage networks, consolidate achievements in tackling black-and-odor water bodies, and work toward creating thriving, picturesque rivers and lakes that bring happiness to communities.

 

6. Enhance Urban Safety Resilience

 

(Fourteen) Strengthen safety management of housing and municipal infrastructure. Establish comprehensive lifecycle safety management systems for housing, including regular safety inspections, dedicated funding for housing safety management, and housing quality & safety insurance. Strictly limit the construction of ultra-high-rise buildings and enhance firefighting capabilities at high altitudes. Implement initiatives to retrofit and renovate prefabricated-panel housing units in urban areas, as well as projects aimed at reinforcing building structures in regions prone to earthquakes. Intensify efforts to address issues related to overcrowded rental housing. Accelerate the development of critical infrastructure projects focused on ensuring the safety of urban lifelines. Promote a distributed layout for essential facilities, energy systems, water sources, and other vital resources, while simultaneously upgrading disaster-resilience standards to bolster overall safety and security capabilities.

 

(Fifteen) Strengthen safety production management in key industries and sectors. Strictly implement the safety production responsibility system, uphold the principle of shared responsibility between the Party and government, and ensure that managing an industry means managing its safety, overseeing business operations means ensuring their safety, and directing production and operations inherently entails prioritizing safety. Urge production and operation entities to fulfill their primary responsibilities for safety production. Focus particularly on hazardous chemicals, special equipment, construction projects, urban gas systems, road transportation, and fire safety, adopting tiered, intelligent, and precise approaches to effectively control major risk sources. Regularly carry out inspections and rectifications of safety hazards, as well as safety training programs for employees. Additionally, establish a corporate safety production credit evaluation system and emphasize the practical application of evaluation results.

 

(Sixteen) Enhance the city's public health preparedness, prevention, and treatment capabilities. Advance the construction of national regional public health centers. Strengthen capacity-building efforts at national major infectious disease control bases, national emergency medical rescue bases, and designated hospitals for infectious diseases, and establish a tiered, layered, and triage-based treatment system. Bolster reserves of emergency medical supplies. Promote multi-departmental and cross-city collaboration, reinforcing public health emergency management as well as joint prevention and control mechanisms. Further improve the mental health service system.

 

(17) Enhance the city's comprehensive capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief. Develop a risk profile specific to urban safety, and establish robust mechanisms for routine monitoring, early warning, hazard identification, and remediation. Optimize the spatial layout of urban disaster prevention and mitigation efforts by increasing ecological barriers, isolation and evacuation routes, and reserving flexible spaces for disaster response and relief operations. Strengthen the coordinated management and joint dispatch system for flood and waterlogging control, thereby improving the city's overall drainage and flood-prevention capabilities. Promote the integrated use of above-ground and underground urban spaces, reinforce the construction of public infrastructure capable of dual-purpose (normal and emergency) functions, and create a well-rounded, rationally distributed system of emergency shelters. Scientifically formulate contingency plans for catastrophic disasters. Additionally, bolster the emergency command, response, and rescue systems, and advance the proactive stockpiling of essential emergency equipment and supplies.

 

7. Promote the Prosperity and Development of Urban Culture

 

(18) Promote the protection, utilization, and inheritance of urban historical and cultural heritage. Strengthen efforts to preserve the unique historical context, human geography, and natural landscapes of cities, and enhance the comprehensive system for safeguarding and passing on urban and rural historical and cultural legacies. Establish a sound survey and inventory system for urban cultural heritage, and conduct specialized investigations into historic city centers and their historical districts. Foster resident-centered mechanisms for implementing preservation initiatives. Advance holistic protection of nationally renowned historic cities and districts, while actively revitalizing immovable cultural relics, historic buildings, and industrial heritage sites. Leverage historic districts and areas as platforms to integrate cultural exhibitions, distinctive commerce, and leisure experiences tailored to local contexts. Additionally, reinforce the protection, management, and sustainable utilization of tangible cultural resources, as well as the safeguarding, promotion, and transmission of intangible cultural heritage.

 

(19) Shape the unique character and charm of the city. Rooted in China's outstanding traditional culture, we will build a civilized city that upholds moral values and fosters kindness, thereby showcasing China's distinct ethos and elegance. Strengthen the regulatory and guiding role of urban planning to promote functional integration, moderate density, varied heights, and a harmonious blend of blue and green spaces. Enhance the city's aesthetic management system to elevate its overall artistic taste. Implement the architectural principles of "practicality, economy, sustainability, and beauty," while reinforcing building design oversight to ensure that urban architecture better reflects Chinese aesthetics and contemporary trends. Importantly, we must avoid large-scale tree removal or deforestation, prevent the overdevelopment of cultural landmarks, and refrain from arbitrarily altering historic place names.

 

(20) Enrich urban spiritual and cultural life. Vigorously promote socialist core values, fostering a mindset, civilized ethos, and behavioral norms that align with the vision of a modern, people-centered city. This will enhance citizens' civic awareness and help cultivate a vibrant urban spirit that reflects the city's rich cultural heritage and distinctive character. Additionally, we will innovatively expand new types of public cultural spaces and continuously improve urban cultural facilities based on actual needs. Finally, we’ll optimize the supply of urban cultural products by pioneering innovative formats such as animation, film and television, digital art, and creative design, while also driving integrated development between culture and sectors like tourism, technology, and sports.

 

8. Enhance the Capacity and Level of Urban Governance

 

(21) Enhance the urban governance system. Fully leverage the roles of "one committee, one office, and one platform," and establish a robust, coordinated mechanism for urban management, led by key officials from the city-level Party committee or government. Strengthen the integrated administrative enforcement system across various sectors—such as urban management, market regulation, ecological environment, cultural markets, transportation, and emergency management—ensuring clear division of responsibilities and seamless, efficient collaboration. Scientifically determine staffing ratios for enforcement personnel, while also guaranteeing adequate working conditions. Encourage citizens to actively participate in urban governance with enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity, and explore new models of coordinated operation among neighborhood committees, homeowners' associations, and property service enterprises under the leadership of community Party organizations. Finally, refine institutional frameworks that enable residents, businesses, mass organizations, and social groups to engage in urban governance, fully harnessing the power of volunteer services and expanding opportunities for participation among emerging workforce groups.

 

(22) Promote smart and refined urban governance. Advance the city's comprehensive digital transformation across all domains. Build an integrated, unified urban digital infrastructure that fosters data convergence and efficient collaboration, while enhancing the City Information Modeling (CIM) platform. Deepen the development of data resources and their multi-scenario applications, driving initiatives such as "One-Network Access" for government services, "One-Network Management" for city operations, and "One-Network Sharing" for public services. Strengthen the management and digitalization of urban construction archives. Refine the grid-based governance mechanism, spearhead the renovation of small-scale yet vital urban public spaces, and undertake targeted improvements to backstreets, alleys, and areas surrounding homes—enhancing both aesthetics and living conditions.

 

(23) Strengthen urban social governance. Uphold and advance the "Fengqiao Experience" of the new era, refine the coordination mechanism for grassroots governance under the leadership of Party building, and promote the establishment of a grassroots governance system characterized by unified leadership from Party organizations, lawful responsibilities assigned to the government, active collaboration among various organizations, and extensive public participation—integrating self-governance, rule of law, and moral governance. Effectively utilize the citizen service hotline and enhance mechanisms for responding to and addressing public concerns. Drive urban management initiatives into communities, while reinforcing governance in special areas such as ultra-large communities. Strengthen comprehensive prevention and control of public security, and expand and bolster community-based preventive and collaborative policing efforts. Enhance the capacity-building of community worker teams, and fully leverage the role of village (neighborhood) legal advisory teams. Improve the social safety and stability risk monitoring and early-warning system, elevating the ability to dynamically monitor and anticipate potential risks. Additionally, strengthen the social psychological service system and crisis intervention mechanisms, while rigorously guarding against individual extremist incidents.

 

9. Strengthen Organization and Implementation

 

Uphold and strengthen the CPC Central Committee's centralized and unified leadership over urban work, establishing a working framework characterized by central-level overall coordination, provincial-level primary responsibility, and cities tasked with implementation. Foster and practice a correct view of political achievements, systematically develop and refine a scientific evaluation system for urban development, and enhance the capacity of leading cadres in urban affairs. Further improve the legal frameworks, policies, and institutional mechanisms governing urban planning, construction, governance, and other key areas, ensuring greater policy coherence. Adhere to the principles of seeking truth from facts and being pragmatic, resolutely opposing formalism and bureaucratic practices, and rigorously addressing any violations of discipline or law. Strengthen efforts to enhance the quality and capabilities of urban work teams, cultivating specialized talent in urban planning, construction, governance, and related fields, while building a high-end think tank dedicated to urban issues. All regions and relevant departments should reinforce organizational implementation, bolster collaborative efforts, and tailor measures to effectively put these guidelines into practice based on local conditions. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Development and Reform Commission, together with other relevant agencies, will step up coordination and guidance. Any significant matters should be promptly reported to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council according to established procedures.