Chinese President Hu Jintao Thursday urged to continue the country's urbanization process with Chinese characteristics in a healthy and orderly way.

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the remarks when presiding over the 25th group study of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, which was themed on overseas urbanization patterns and urbanization with Chinese characteristics.

Hu called for the adherence to the principles of gradualism, land conservation, intensive development and rational project distribution so as to form the new structure of urban development on the basis of energy saving, environmentalism, economic efficiency and social harmony.

Urbanization is the ultimate trend for economic and social development, as well as an important symbol for industrialization and modernization, he said.

China is in the crucial stage of its urbanization process, so it's of great importance to continue the coordinated development of large and medium-sized cities and small cities and gradually lift up the urbanization level, he said.

The coordination of urban and rural development and the continued urbanization on the basis of economic and social development can enhance the linkage between cities and villages, optimize the distribution of capital goods in larger ranges, and transfer redundant rural labor forces in an orderly fashion, helping to fulfill the common development and prosperity of cities and villages, he said.

The increase of the urbanization level can better allocate various resources, make full use of cities in pushing forward economic and social development and promote China's economic development and overall competitiveness, he said.

Due to China's large population, a poor foundation and imbalanced development, the concept of scientific development must be implemented and the urbanization with Chinese characteristics must be continued, he said.

Hu put stress on environmental and resource protection, the sustainable development, the market role in allocating all kinds of resources, diversified urbanization patterns, formulation of urbanization strategy according to local conditions and the creation of a good environment for urbanization.

Hu also underlined the urbanization planning, system renovation, function advocacy and management enhancement, saying scientific and reasonable plans must be formulated so as to direct the urbanization process in a rational way.

Source: Xinhua