A crowded subway station in Beijing. (Photo/CNS)

First-tier cities of China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guanzhou and Shenzhen have announced their population control target according to the 13th Five Year Plan.

According to the announcement, by the end of 2020, the permanent resident population of Beijing will be within 23 million，Shanghai 25 million, Guangzhou 15.5 million and Shenzhen 14.8 million. It means in the next five years, the population growth of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen will be limited to 1.3 million, 0.85 million, 2 million and 3.42 million respectively. 

The setting up of a population red line is based on the need to cure the "big city diseases". However, cities are facing many difficulties and great pressure to achieve such targets. To lower the "siphonic effect" of big cities, these cities need to adjust urban function positioning and disperse industries and employments. 

The State Department counselor Ma Li told the reporter from the China News Service that big cities have a high rate of capital return, a high degree of industry agglomeration and more employment opportunities. Consequently, a large number of people end up concentrating in these cities. As the population has exceeded the carrying capacity of these cities, their sustainable development will be hindered. So it is very necessary to make population growth targets and relevant policies for big cities.