The number of small administrative towns in China has reached 19,000 up from 3000 20 years ago, with an average annual increase of 0.63 percent, or nearly double of the world average in the same period.
The news was announced at the Symposium to Promote Healthy Development of Small Towns, being held in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.
It was also announced that the country's urbanization level has increased about 13 percent in the same period.
Countryside urbanization is a strategic method employed worldwide to promote economic and social development in rural areas.
Compared to developing countries with a similar economic level to China, the nation's urbanization level is still 10 percent lower, which hinders development of tertiary industries and creation of new jobs, and lowers consumption investment in infrastructure in rural areas and hence has a negative impact on national economic growth.
Since the opening up and reform of China, small towns have emerged at rapid speed. According to official statistics, about 100 million villagers have realized their dreams of living in cities, and their quality of life has also gone through great changes.
Statistics show township enterprises produce 61 percent of added value in the rural areas, 28 percent of China's GDP, 20 percent of national taxes and 32 percent of revenue from China's farmers.
(eastday.com 09/29/2000)
