China Expects Urbanization Rate to Be at 51.5% by 2015

China expects its urbanization rate to rise from 47.5 percent in 2010 to 51.5 percent by the end of 2015, with an average annual increase of four percent, according to a government plan.

China will push forward urbanization in an active and stable manner, focusing on gradually transferring farmers qualified for urban household permits into cities, it says.

The target is part of the draft of the 12th Five-Year Plan which has been tabled to the Fourth Session of the 11th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The draft plan will be examined by national legislators in the coming week and is expected to be approved during the legislative session.