China has no reason not to have better planned cities, says scholar

There is no reason why China cannot have better urban-planning, said a Singaporean scholar at the China Development Forum on Saturday.

The government has strengthened coordination at all levels and has more land resources for infrastructure development, said Liu Thai Ker, chairman of the Center for Liveable Cities (CLC) under Singapore's Ministry of National Development.

Liu said policymakers should plan more carefully and devise urban layout with a long-term view, adding that despite the fast-changing global environment, people's needs remain much the same.

Addressing cap on population in some of the country's mega-sized cities, Ni Hong, vice-minister of housing and urban-rural development, said such policies are temporary, as some cities have outgrown their capacity, adding that he hopes local governments will adopt more suitable measures in the future.

The China Development Forum is held on Mar 19-21 this year at the Diaoyutai Guesthouse in Beijing, under the principle of "Engaging with the world for the common prosperity".

Initiated in 2000, the forum aims to provide a discussion platform for business elites from home and abroad, Nobel laureates and leaders of international organizations.