Beijing seeks cure for 'urban diseases'

Beijing will take a series of measures to tackle the "urban diseases" that have afflicted the megacity for a long period of time, according to a decision adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Beijing Municipal Committee held from January 12 to 13, Xinhua reported.

The decision, which focuses on comprehensively deepening reform, highlights that measures should be taken across four aspects as to cure typical urban diseases such as congestion and air pollution: deepening the study on population control mechanism and setting the medium and long-term targets for population control; improving the mechanism on air pollution prevention and control; improving the mechanism on easing traffic congestion; and improving the mechanism on the city's refined management.

Guo Jinlong, secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, said during the session that to address the tough problems restricting the megacity's sustainable development is the "biggest challenge" to Beijingers at present and will remain thus over a period of time still to come.

Guo emphasized that deepened comprehensive reform is the only and correct choice for the further development of the capital city.

Guo said, "Reform plays an important role in fueling the transformation of the economic growth pattern to improve growth quality and efficiency, as well as in reducing the population pressures on the environment and resources, and tackling key problems that obstruct the development of megacities."

"Reform is also key in resolving the issues that concern the vital interests of the people and meeting their aspirations for a better life," Guo stressed.