China's people-centered urbanization strategy offers valuable insights to the world, according to Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
In an interview released by China Media Group (CMG) on Friday, Rossbach said China’s push to promote people-centered urbanization aligns with UN-Habitat’s mandate and the New Urban Agenda -- a framework for action on housing and sustainable urban development.
"I think this is the trend and this is the way to go. It's very aligned to the mandate of UN-Habitat and to the New Urban Agenda. The New Urban Agenda is a global commitment, and it advocates for people-centered urban policies, people-centered urban planning. It advocates for housing at the center. The way we planned cities in the past used to be very, you know, complex, technocrat, so people wouldn't understand, you know, what was behind city planning, and how you do that, and who is in charge," she said.
Speaking about the future of urban development, Rossbach emphasized the importance of inclusive, forward-looking city planning that reflects shared social values and aspirations.
"I think the way to go now is, you know, kind of urban planning, or when we think about designing cities, building new cities. But how cities develop is, you know, through plans that people understand. First of all, plans that respond to the needs of people, to the social needs; plans that are respectful to the environment, that incorporate the principle that is also at the New Urban Agenda -- the principles of the social and the ecological functions of the land, that look at land use in a very smart way, that look to the future," she said.
Building on this foundation, she said China's drive to integrate a people-centered approach throughout the entire process of urban planning, construction, and governance offers valuable lessons for the global community.
"How these cities are going to shelter their future citizens -- the youth, the aging population, the migrants. How is it that a city will grow -- horizontally, vertically -- plans that we can agree upon as a society? Plans that are built on a social contract, right? Of an imagery or an expectation or an aspiration for a city. And for me, what you mentioned about China's cities being people-centered, this is the way, you know, all cities have to go," said Rossbach.
China's people-centered urbanization strategy offers insights to world: UN-Habitat chief
