Interview with Experts
JIN Xiao-bin, YE Chao, YUE Wen-ze, MA Li-bang, LUO Zhen-dong, YANG Ren, LYU Xiao, WANG Cheng, LI Chuan-wu, ZHANG Guo-jun, FAN Ye-ting
Urban-rural integrated development is an important way to coordinate the national strategies of new urbanization and rural revitalization. It is also crucial for Chinese-style modernization. To comprehensively tackle challenges facing the current urban-rural integration in China, explore the path of coordinated urban-rural governance, and clarify the strategies for urban-rural integrated development, experts from various fields were cordially invited to engage in in-depth discussions on pressing issues related to urban-rural iintegrated development. These issues include the trends and pathways of urban-rural integration in contemporary China, Innovation of institutions and mechanisms for urban-rural integration, implementation pathways for territorial spatial planning, emerging rural business models and rural transformation pathways, high-quality development pathways for urban-rural integration in different regions, and the path of promoting urban-rural integrated development through comprehensive land consolidation. These discussions aimed to advance theoretical research and practical planning of urban-rural integrated development in China. Attentions need to be paid in urban-rural integrated development in the New Era on: (1) The primary obstacles and innovative pathways in the institutions and mechanisms of urban-rural integrated development guided by comprehensive coordination and regional interconnectivity. Constructing an infrastructure and public service system that effectively connects and complements urban and rural areas, accelerating the coordinated development of urban and rural areas using counties as the carrier, and promoting the flexible governance of this population while concurrently achieving integrated governance of urban-rural natural and social system. Promoting cross-border governance, encouraging cooperation and assistance between eastern and western regions, and achieving regional-scale coordinated development between urban and rural areas. Underdeveloped regions in both Central and Western China should strengthen the linkage role of counties and small towns. This involves enhancing their attractiveness for the inflow of talent, technology, and capital, and driving the transformation of industrial structures towards digitization, intelligence, and low. In contrast, developed regions in the Eastern China should establish a spatial structure system with multiple focal points, network layout, and clear hierarchies. They should expand the breadth and precision of urban-rural factor mobility, and promote the transformation and upgrade of traditional infrastructure and public services, aiming for inclusive development. (2) Optimizing the allocation of resource elements driven by the "planning-utilization-consolidation" cycle in territorial spatial management to achieve shared urban-rural governance and rural reconstruction. Anchoring the spatial pattern of urban and rural development through territorial spatial planning, optimizing the urban-rural spatial layout during planning implementation. Ultimately, improving the spatial quality organic renewal and driving bidirectional flows of diverse elements between urban and rural regions. Place emphasis on rural functional provision, resource utilization orientation, and industrial development models, uncovering multifaceted rural functions including production, lifestyle, ecology, and landscapes. Exploring regionally adapted industrial integration models that enhance agricultural and rural development vitality through distinctive features and high efficiency gains. We also should enhance the leading role of comprehensive land consolidation policies, incentivize and support active private capital involvement, promote resource integration and value enhancement. Strengthening urban-rural industrial synergy and integrated development, and facilitating the orderly flow of urban-rural resource elements. (3) Enhanced awareness and innovative practices in targeted urban-rural governance and rural transformation supported by digital technology and intelligent platforms. Establishing an urban-rural data sharing platform helps bridge the "digital divide" in urban-rural integrated development and enables refined governance across urban and rural areas. Deeply apply the technologies like 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) to support the transformation and upgrade of conventional infrastructure. Expanding the coverage of digital devices in rural basic facilities, and utilizing digital technology to integrate cultural resources across urban and rural areas. Promoting the deep integration of the digital economy and the physical economy involves linking consumer markets through the internet and digital technology, establishing diverse channels for agricultural product distribution, and stimulating the transformation of consumption patterns and the enhancement of consumption capabilities for both urban and rural residents. Embedding digital technology into rural industry development and social governance processes to facilitate the intelligent transformation of agricultural production, digitalization of rural industry development, smartification of rural administrative affairs, and establishment of a digital grid for rural social governance. The aforementioned viewpoints can provide theoretical support and decision-making foundations for achieving the goal of urban-rural integrated development oriented towards Chinese-style modernization.