Sustainable Urban Development

City, an outcome of human history at a certain stage, symbolizes the development of human civilization. The formation and development of a city is closely related to the economic and social development of corresponding regions. It is a matter of fact that there is a great gap between Western China and Eastern China in the field of economic and social development. In spite of great efforts by Western China to enhance its regional economy, the overall urbanization level there is fairly low, with a small number of cities and unbalanced urban development, due to poor transportation and communication. Besides, economic development can never be realized overnight. And in Western China, there have never been central cities of various levels with great concentrating effect and energy released. It is safe to say that laggard urbanization has seriously hindered the industrialization and modernization process of China, and particularly Western China. In Western China development, we need to study carefully and resolve such issues as how to choose appropriate urbanization strategies and policies focusing on accelerating the industrialization and urbanization process, how to strengthen urban construction and management, how to develop large, medium and small-sized cities (towns) rationally, how to optimize urban spatial layout, how to build harmonious urban scale system, how to set up scientific institutional support system and criterion system, and so on and so forth. Against the background of basically established new institution in socialist market economy and national strategy of Western China development, both starting from and ending in urban development in Sichuan province, this article is founded upon full and accurate investigation and research on this issue, trying to elevate the development strategies to the level of policy for the benefit of accelerating the urbanization process in Western China, especially in Sichuan province, as well as aiming at mutual growth of urban- rural economy and society through positive interaction among the first, second and third industries.This article is composed of nine sections.The first section, an overview, presents the background and purpose of the research, as well as urbanization research status quo both at homeand abroad, focusing on classical theories in urbanization research, such as representative theories of urbanization research in Western counties, urbanization ideas proposed by classical Marist writers, and representative theories in urbanization research put forward by Chinese scholars in recent years.Chapter One: Sustainable Development Ideas and Strategies. By reviewing the developing history of sustainable development ideas both in China and in western countries, and through a comparative research between traditional development pattern and sustainable development pattern, this section holds that the former has accomplished its historical mission so far, and sustainable development pattern nowadays has drawn more and more attention from the world. Especially for those undeveloped regions, sustainable development idea is of even greater guiding significance. Sticking to urbanization of sustainable development, we can learn from the mistakes made by developed western countries in the process of urbanization for the benefit of urbanization development in China. Based on that, this section tries to set up the theory, pattern and criterion system of urban sustainable development, and brings forward the strategy and principle of modern urban sustainable development. Meanwhile, it also points out the objective of modern urban sustainable development, namely, the high-level unification of sustainable urbanization and urban eco-economic system.Chapter Two: Dynamic Mechanism, General Law and Development Trend of Urbanization.In a brief retrospect of urban formation process, development stages, and dynamic mechanism, this section defines city and town separately,and sums up several economic laws that affect urbanization development.In particula...