Premier Li Qiang presided over a State Council executive meeting on May 15th. The meeting reviewed progress reports on implementing the Central Urban Work Conference's decisions and advancing urban renewal initiatives. It approved the "15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal" and the "15th Five-Year Plan for Accelerating Agricultural and Rural Modernization." Discussions also covered population development strategies and reforms in basic education.
Following the Central Urban Work Conference, various regions and departments have actively implemented the Party Central Committee's decisions, taking measures to promote high-quality urban development. China's urban development is transitioning from a phase of large-scale expansion to one focused on improving existing assets for quality and efficiency. Urban renewal must be prioritized, combining long-term vision with immediate action and focusing on key areas to advance work systematically. The goal is to build modern, people-centered cities that are innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, culturally vibrant, and smart. Key tasks include implementing urban renewal priorities, fostering new drivers of urban growth, creating high-quality living spaces, promoting green and low-carbon urban transitions, enhancing urban safety and resilience, boosting cultural prosperity, and improving urban governance capabilities. It is essential to refine implementation mechanisms, strengthen policy support systems, and establish sustainable models for urban renewal.
Agricultural and rural modernization is crucial to the overall success and quality of Chinese modernization. The "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" must remain a top priority, with continuous efforts to strengthen foundations and enhance development quality. Following natural laws and adapting to local conditions, efforts should focus on improving comprehensive agricultural production capacity, consolidating and expanding achievements in poverty alleviation, broadening channels for increasing farmers' incomes, and building livable, business-friendly, and beautiful villages. Safeguarding food security and preventing large-scale relapse into poverty are fundamental imperatives.
Adapting to new demographic trends requires efforts to improve the overall quality of the population, maintain an appropriate fertility rate and population size, and continuously accumulate and leverage human resource dividends to promote high-quality population development. Building a fertility-friendly society involves enhancing maternity service guarantees, improving infant and child care services, and strengthening comprehensive family support policies. Proactive measures are needed to address population aging, including improving social security for the elderly, enhancing the quality and efficiency of elderly care services, and vigorously developing the silver economy. Adjustments to population distribution should be supported by mechanisms linking land supply and fiscal transfers to population changes, optimizing the use of public service resources.
Aiming for the goal of building a strong education system by 2035, efforts must align with public expectations and new socioeconomic conditions to comprehensively improve the quality of basic education. This includes better coordination and allocation of basic education resources, ensuring equal access to education for migrant children in their places of residence, and strengthening care and support for left-behind and vulnerable children in rural areas. The aim is to gradually narrow gaps between urban and rural areas, regions, schools, and demographic groups. Reforms in educational approaches, school management models, administrative systems, and support mechanisms should be actively promoted to invigorate school operations.
The meeting also addressed other matters.