The country now has seven super megacities and 14 megacities, covering a total area of 169,000 square kilometers. Their combined population is about 290 million and their total annual gross domestic product is about 33.6 trillion yuan ($5.26 trillion). That means these cities generate 33.1 percent of the national GDP with 20.7 percent of the national population on 7.9 percent of the country's land.

However, it should be noted that the prosperity of these cities, which are mostly directly under the administration of the central authorities or else provincial capitals, is largely attributable to their superior position in the bureaucratic system.

They have greater administrative power than other cities to channel resources to themselves, such as funds, talents and technology.

That unavoidably distorts the market relations in the province or the region near them. For instance, some of the cities account for nearly half of the GDP of their respective provinces, and their booming not only hollows out the countryside but also many smaller cities.

More resources should be tilted to these big cities' satellite towns, and the countryside surrounding them, particularly in the fields of infrastructure construction, to substantiate the balanced development.

In the future, China should raise the level of coordinated development of one-hour commuting circles, and foster a group of modern metropolitan circles. Smaller cities should try their best to take advantage of advanced information technology and heed the experience of these bigger cities to improve their management and operation efficiency.

Balanced urbanization can promote the revitalization of the countryside and help the country realize its carbon emissions reduction goals.

The greatest driving force for rural revitalization will continue to come from cities. Rural areas near metropolitan areas are more easily supported by urban resources and thus can take the lead in realizing rural revitalization.
Also, China should combine urbanization with its plan to achieve carbon neutrality.

Most developed countries put forward their goals for carbon neutrality having completed their industrialization and urbanization. China is still urbanizing and through effective design of transportation networks and the urban-rural spatial layouts, carbon emissions can be reduced in the process of urbanization.

Major reforms should be promoted for the labor force, land, planning, and administration in a bid to release the vitality of metropolitan areas, accelerate the cultivation and expansion of new growth drivers and bridge the regional development gaps.

- 21ST CENTURY BUSINESS HERALD