International Experiences From The Development Of Small And Medium-sized Cities And Views On Development Of Small And Medium-sized Cities In China

The acceleration of urbanization is the most important development strategy of China in the twenty-first century. It is also a key point to solve the development problems of China. Small and medium-sized cities are paramount parts of the city system and they are also the most dynamic group in the process of urbanization. During the course of building a harmonious society and constructing a relatively prosperous society in an all-round way, the development of small and medium-sized cities is crucial to the coordinated development among different regions and between urban and rural areas. In order to draw some lessons and experiences from the development of developed countries and seek a scientific path of development for small and medium-sized cities in China, China Mount Tai International Symposium on Development of Small and Medium-sized Cities was held in the autumn of 2006 in Tai'an, Shandong Province. The theme of the Symposium is "To build a harmonious city and obtain sustainable development". Cities from home and abroad have increased understanding and enhanced friendship through this symposium. And the symposium served as a new platform of exchanges and cooperation, which exerted an active influence on solving the problems facing the development of small and medium-sized cities in the world, strengthening regional economic cooperation in the international community, and propelling the harmonious and sustainable development of cities. The author expounds his views on the subject of the development of small and medium-sized cities from China Mount Tai International Symposium on Development of Small and Medium-sized Cities.First of all, the article discusses that the acceleration of urbanization is an inevitable choice to realize economic modernization in four aspects. Namely, the first one is that cities serve as an important foil for the development of the market economy and that urbanization is an inevitable process for modernization. Second, the acceleration of urbanization is the ultimate choice for the solutions to questions concerning agriculture, farmers and rural areas. Third, the acceleration of urbanization is the inevitable result of structural adjustment and optimization. And fourth, the acceleration of urbanization is the objective requirement for the realization of the economical and international market.Second, the author expounds his views on the development status quo of the cities in China and the existing problems in the development of small and medium-sized cities. Specifically, he discusses the existing problems such as the sever contradiction between economic growth and ecology and environmental protection, laissez-faire city planning, the scarcity of importance on the long-term development of cities and the widening gap in the development of small and medium-sized cities between east and west.Last, the article explains the current development model and experiences of small and medium-sized cities through the introduction of the expertise and lessons in the development of world-renowed cities in the world and expounds his views and thinking on the development of small and medium-sized cities in China.