FACTBOX: China's urbanization plan 2014-2020

Basic principles, objectives and milestones for urbanization in China from now to 2020 were set out this weekend.

A national plan (2014-2020), the first of its kind, was unveiled on Sunday by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, the country's Cabinet.

The following are main features of the scheme.

KEY NUMBERS

-- Permanent urban residents rose from 17.9 percent of the total population in 1978 to 53.7 percent in 2013.

-- By 2020, 100 million migrant workers and other permanent urban residents should get city "hukou" (household registration).

-- There were almost 270 million migrant workers in China at the end of 2013.

-- Regular railways will connect all cities with more than 200,000 residents by 2020, and high-speed rail will connect those with above 500,000 residents.

-- Expressways will link cities with over 200,000 residents by 2020.

-- Civil aviation services will cover about 90 percent of China's population.

SIGNIFICANCE

-- strong impetus for sustainable economic growth

-- accelerates industrial restructuring

-- solves agricultural problems

-- balances regional development

BASIC PRINCIPLES

-- people at the center

-- social justice

-- balanced rural and urban development

-- optimized city layouts

-- efficient use of land

-- coordination with informatization, industrialization and agricultural modernization

-- green development

-- cultural heritage emphasized through the distinctive characteristics of each city

MAJOR OBJECTIVES

-- By 2020, permanent urban residents should reach 60 percent of the populace, while three quarters of those residents will have hukou.

-- The leading role of major cities will be emphasized, while increasing the number of small and medium cities.

-- The service functions of of small towns will be improved.

-- Green production and consumption will be the norm in the urban economy.

-- The urban environment will be harmonious and pleasant with basic public services accessible to all permanent urbanites.

-- Clean air and safe drinking water will be available for all.

-- The systems of household registration, land management, social security, taxation and general administration will be improved.