Senior official askes to better plan city construction

BEIJING, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Li Yuanchao, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Saturday urged officials to better plan city construction and strive to build cities which citizens are satisfied with.

Li, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also urged local officials to better implement the Urban and Rural Planning Law, effective from January 1, 2008.

A special class on super city's urban and rural planning was held here on Saturday. Li Yuanchao attended a discussion with the members of the class Saturday.

The members of the class are vice-mayors of four municipalities and Party secretaries and mayors of cities with more than one million population.

Li said Scientific Outlook on Development should be taken as the guideline for urban and rural planning.

He said development is the essence of the Scientific Outlook on Development. Officials, when conducting city planning, should fully consider the needs of economic and social development, reasonably design the city's industry and infrastructure, strives to draw in competitive talents and investment, so as to promote sound and rapid economic and social development.

He said the principle of putting people the first should be reflected in city planning. Officials should fully consider citizen's housing, education and medical needs, try to improve the environment and transportation infrastructure when planning city construction.

Li said city planning should be based on the features of local land, water, energy and resources, so as to promote comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development.

City planning should highlight the city's cultural features and strengthen the preservation and protection of historical and cultural heritage, he added.