Premier Li Qiang chaired an executive meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, on Friday, to hear a report on the progress in carrying out urban renewal nationwide, reviewing and approving the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for urban renewal.

It was noted at the meeting that since the Central Urban Work Conference in July, various measures have been taken to promote high-quality urban development across the country, resulting in new progress.

The meeting pointed out that China's urbanization is transitioning from large-scale incremental expansion to a stage focused on improving the quality and efficiency of existing capacity.

Urban renewal should be prioritized, with a combination of short-term and long-term strategies and a focus on key areas, to build innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, culturally advanced, smart and modernized cities with people's well-being at the center, according to the meeting.

It is essential to implement key tasks for urban renewal to foster new drivers of urban development, create high-quality urban living spaces, enhance urban security and resilience, and improve urban governance capabilities, the meeting said.

The meeting urged improving the institutional framework for implementing urban renewal projects and enhancing policy support to build a sustainable urban renewal model.

The meeting also reviewed and approved the 15th Five-Year Plan for accelerating agricultural and rural modernization, studied the work regarding population development and basic education reform.

It was emphasized at the meeting that agricultural and rural modernization is crucial to the overall progress and quality of Chinese modernization.

The meeting underlined the need to give priority to the work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers, continuously strengthen the agricultural foundation and improve development quality and efficiency in the sector.

Efforts should be made to consolidate and expand achievements in poverty alleviation, and stay firm to ensure food security and prevent those who have been lifted out of poverty from slipping back into absolute poverty on a large scale, according to the meeting.

The meeting stressed the need to adapt to the new trends in population development, focusing on improving the overall quality of the population, maintaining an appropriate birth rate and population size, and promoting high-quality population development.

A fertility-friendly society should be built, with enhanced fertility services and support, improved infant care services, and a comprehensive family support policy framework, the meeting said.

Efforts should be made to actively address the aging population, strengthen social security for the elderly and enhance the efficiency of elderly care services, it added.

The meeting also highlighted the need to target the goal of building a strong nation in education by 2035, and comprehensively improve the quality of basic education.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn