Urbanization highlighted on agenda of 2013 economic work

Urbanization is a key part of government strategy to raise personal income and living standards and it's been highlighted on the agenda of the Central Economic Work Conference, which has just concluded, and the 18th CPC National Congress.

The official figures show that during the past thirty years, the urban population increased from 172 million to 700 million by the end of last year. The urbanization rate has increased from nearly 18-percent to 51-percent and it's expected to go up by another 400 million over the next decade.

Experts say the urbanization process will require innovative channels of investment and a financial system that will allow rural and urban reform to promote sustainable development.