Premier Li Qiang Calls for Sustainable Urban Renewal at Cabinet Study Session

Chinese Premier Li Qiang chaired the State Council's 21st special study session, emphasizing high-quality urban renewal to drive intensive development. According to official reports, Li stated that profound shifts in China's population dynamics, growth drivers, and real estate market make urban renewal an essential tool for boosting domestic demand and improving residents' quality of life. The meeting brought together senior cabinet leaders and urban planning experts to explore sustainable modernization models tailored to Chinese cities.

Urban renewal has emerged as a central instrument for Beijing to navigate structural adjustments in the property sector and changes in demographic patterns. By directing policy focus away from sprawling peripheral expansion toward the targeted revitalization of existing urban stock, the leadership aims to stimulate domestic consumption, support construction activity, and improve public welfare without repeating debt-heavy land development practices.

Premier Li Qiang presided over the State Council's 21st special study session, calling for the high-quality advancement of urban renewal to support sustainable, intensive urban development, according to state media reports. The session, held in Beijing, focused on implementing central leadership directives to establish durable urban renewal models. Li stressed the need to optimize urban structures, enhance municipal functionality, preserve cultural heritage, and elevate urban quality to better meet the living standards demanded by residents. Yang Baojun, president of the Urban Planning Society of China, delivered an explanatory presentation during the meeting. Vice Premiers Ding Xuexiang and He Lifeng, alongside State Councilor Wu Zhenglong, participated in the discussions and delivered remarks. In his address following the presentations, Li observed that China's ongoing new industrialization and urbanization have unfolded alongside profound shifts in demographic trends, growth momentum, and the real estate market. In response to these structural transitions, urban development must accelerate its pivot toward intensive, qualitative growth. Li identified urban renewal as a pivotal lever for municipal work in the current era, serving as an important vehicle for expanding domestic demand, transitioning growth drivers, and improving residential welfare. He called for a deeper understanding of urban development patterns to forge a modernization path with Chinese characteristics. The premier reiterated the 'people's city' governance concept, instructing officials to integrate people-centered development principles into every stage of renewal projects. He emphasized that prime public assets, renovated communal spaces, and ecological resources should be prioritized for civic needs. Local authorities, he noted, must focus directly on urgent public concerns, targeting municipal bottlenecks to achieve tangible improvements in daily living conditions.