Aug. 5, 2024 -- A new round of urbanization drive planned for the next five years will help raise the share of China's urban residents to 70 percent of its population, and help overhaul its urban-rural two-track hukou system so that out-of-towners can better enjoy public services ranging from healthcare to schooling in their adopted homes, an official said on Friday.

About 165 million farmers have moved to cities and acquired urban hukou, or permanent residency, in cities, over the past decade, Zheng Bei, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission said while addressing a policy briefing held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing.

She said the nation's urbanization rate — which measures the percentage of urban residents in the population — has risen from 53.1 percent in 2012 to 66.16 percent by the end of last year, and urban public service coverage has substantially expanded over the period.

The demographic change has supported China's economic growth and helped improve Chinese people's livelihood, she noted.

"During the process of urbanization, there are still some issues that need to be addressed," Zheng said.

Over the next five years, authorities will speed up affordable housing construction and the makeover of shanty towns as part of a broader effort to reduce safety risks besetting the fast-paced urbanization, she added.

The remarks came as the State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a plan on advancing the "people-centered" urbanization in the next five years.

The document — dated July 28 and released to public on Wednesday — aims in part to bolster the country's domestic consumption through means such as extending public service coverage for rural residents who have moved to cities, and removing hurdles barring them from obtaining permanent residency in their adopted cities.

The measures are widely seen as promising tools by policymakers that can used to slash living costs and embolden consumers to spend.