China pushes 'people-centered' new urbanization with focus on equal public services

A commentary published by China Economic Net argues that China's new urbanization strategy must put people first. It cites a recent State Council guideline on providing basic public services based on permanent residence, and frames it as a key step to help rural migrants access education, housing, healthcare, and social security in cities. The piece notes that China's urbanization rate reached 67.89% in 2025, up from 63.89% in 2020, but acknowledges remaining gaps in integration quality, small-city capacity, and urban safety.