China has unveiled ambitious plans to advance its people-first urbanization strategy this year, with Premier Li Qiang outlining concrete measures during Thursday's government work report at the National People's Congress session. The 2026 roadmap focuses on inclusive development through systemic reforms and infrastructure modernization.
Key Reforms for Rural Migrants
Central to the initiative is streamlining urban residency approvals, enabling rural migrants to access permanent urban status through relaxed eligibility standards. This includes landmark education reforms allowing children of migrant workers to take high school entrance exams in their current cities of residence – a move expected to benefit millions of families.
Smart Cities Meet Local Development
The plan emphasizes county-level economic revitalization through tailored infrastructure planning and specialized industry development. Urban renewal projects will prioritize renovation of aging residential compounds and adaptive reuse of underutilized properties. Premier Li stressed the creation of 'industry-oriented smart communities' integrating advanced governance systems with modern urban design principles.
Safety and Sustainability Focus
New safety protocols for high-rise buildings and critical urban infrastructure form a cornerstone of the strategy, with upgraded fire prevention systems and emergency response capabilities. The government will maintain its land-use optimization policies, linking construction quotas and fiscal transfers to urbanization progress metrics.
These measures build on China's decade-long urbanization drive, now entering a phase Premier Li describes as 'quality-focused development for modern, livable cities that put residents' needs first.'
