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Chinese Mayors Urged to Better Serve People
Top Chinese leaders Sunday reminded mayors across the country of their duties in saving historical relics, protecting environment, and "better serving the people" as urbanization drive is quickening in China.
In a letter to about 500 mayors attending the Third National Congress of the Chinese Association of Mayors (CAM), President Jiang Zemin urged them to "study hard to enhance abilities in the management of modern cities" in order to "better serve citizens."
"Mayors are shouldering very important responsibilities for urbanization which is vital to the country's modernization," said Jiang, who himself assumed the mayor of Shanghai in the 1985-1987 period.
By the year 2000, China's urban population had increased to 456 million, more than one third of the country's total, in about 660 cities and 20,000 towns, compared with 57.6 million in 136 cities and 5,400 towns half a century ago.
Urban areas now contribute more than 70 percent of national gross domestic products, industrial output value and retail sales.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the CAM Congress, vice- premier Wen Jiabao said that "China's Urbanization will continue to be accelerated as China is entering into a new phase of modernization."
Wen urged the mayors to pay special attentions to the protection of historical relics, conservation of water resources, as well as a harmonic development of economy, population, natural resources and environment in the course of urban construction.
Water shortage has emerged as a major problem in many cities, Wen said. Statistics show that some 400 cities do not have enough water to supply, and about 110 cities are facing severe shortage of water.
The vice-premier also stressed the importance of construction of greenery and sustainable development of the cities.
The CAM, whose 5,000 members are leading officials of 660 cities, was initiated in 1991.
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