Slum renovations key to urbanization quality: vice premier (2)

BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Li Keqiang said greater efforts will be made to renovate dilapidated urban areas, as such efforts will be key to improving the quality of urbanization.

"We cannot build high-rises on one side and keep slums on the other side," Li said in reference to the way cities have developed, adding that urbanization quality cannot improve if such a pattern continues.

He made the remarks while visiting the Beiliang community in the city of Baotou, located in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Sunday.

It is estimated that more than 100 million people are living in slums without easy access to tap water or drainage, although many projects have been launched to improve such neighborhoods, Li said.

Li said local governments should map out timetables and launch new campaigns to renovate slums and aged buildings.

Such renovations will demand coordinated efforts from the central government, Li said, adding that governments at both levels will increase their input and make efforts to put away money that is designated for other projects in order to increase funding for the renovations.

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