First, the current overall level of urban modernization in China
Since the reform and opening up, China's cities have developed rapidly in economy, society and culture. According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, by the end of 2006, the urban population of China had reached 577.06 million, which exceeded the sum of six western countries (the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Australia and Canada). The national urbanization rate rose from 17.92%( 1978) in the early stage of reform and opening up to 43.9% in 2006. The urbanization rate has increased by 26 percentage points in 30 years, which is amazing and gratifying. As far as provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities are concerned, except Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and other municipalities directly under the central government, the urbanization rates of Guangdong, Zhejiang and other provinces all exceed 50%, with Guangdong Province accounting for 60.68% in 2005 and 63% in 2006. If we add migrant workers who have worked in cities for many years and those who have studied in urban colleges and universities, the urban population is already half that of China.
China has more than 660 cities. In 2005, there were 283 prefecture-level cities in China, accounting for 84.98% of the total number of prefecture-level administrative units, and there were 226 municipal districts and county-level cities/kloc-0, accounting for 42.84% of the total number of county-level administrative units. There are * * 25,674 town and sub-district offices, accounting for 6 1636 of township-level administrative units. These figures show that among the administrative units below the provincial level, urban administrative units have occupied an important position.
Cities are playing an increasingly important central role in the whole economic development. In 2005, the total GDP of the whole country was 18232 1 100 million yuan, while the total GDP of the four municipalities directly under the central government and the top 50 cities in China was 9281900 million yuan, accounting for 50.9 1% of the whole country, that is, more than half of the national GDP was contributed by these 54 cities. Industries that embody the progress of the times, scientific achievements and advanced technologies, such as equipment manufacturing, modern biological products, communication equipment manufacturing, computer manufacturing, IT industry, modern service industry, modern logistics industry, aviation industry, finance and insurance industry, are almost all concentrated in cities, especially big cities. Therefore, cities play a central role in the development of science and technology, import and export trade, national and local fiscal revenue, the progress of the whole society and the modernization of the country. Cities have mastered the country's economic lifeline and reflected the country's economic strength and competitiveness.
In 2006, the fixed assets investment of the whole society was 65.438+0.0987 billion yuan, of which the urban investment was 9.347 billion yuan, accounting for 85.08% of the total investment. The total retail sales of social consumer goods in the whole year was 764,654.38 billion yuan, including 5 1543 billion yuan in cities, accounting for 67.46% of the total.
In terms of wealth gathering, talent concentration, residents' life and international communication, the status and role of cities are more prominent. A large number of facts show that the dominant position of the city has entered a new historical period or development stage.
It can be said that this city has not only taken a gratifying step in its modernization process, but also made great contributions to the modernization of China. Many cities put forward to take the lead in basically realizing modernization, which is based on advanced productive forces, high scientific and technological level, certain economic strength and relatively affluent residents' lives, and reflects the objective requirements of urban economic and social development. Urban modernization plays a leading and leading role in national modernization. The modernization of cities drives the modernization of rural areas and advances and develops in the direction of urban-rural integration.
Second, the main characteristics of China's urban modernization at this stage
Cities not only play an important role in the development of national economy, society, culture and education, but also are pioneers and models of national modernization. Therefore, it is of great significance to analyze the characteristics and development trend of China's urban modernization.
1. The mode of urban growth has changed from simple scale expansion to equal emphasis on scale and quality.
Since the reform and opening up, it is the most important period for the development of China cities, especially big cities. However, in the last 20 years of the 20th century, the main direction of urban development was to expand the scale of cities, and the scale of many cities, especially big cities, doubled. However, in 2 1 century, the situation began to change. For example, in Guangzhou, Beijing and other cities, since the 2nd/kloc-0th century, due to the pressure and influence of environment, resources, especially land, cities began to enter a new development period from scale expansion to synchronous growth of scale and quality. Specifically, in line with the national economic transition and social transformation, big cities pay attention to the transformation of economic growth mode and carry out strategic adjustment of economic structure, especially industrial structure. Some big cities have changed from industries, especially heavy industries, to new economic structures and industrial systems dominated by high-tech industries, modern service industries and cultural and creative industries. For example, the tertiary industry structure in Beijing has developed from 2.5∶32.7∶64.8 in 2000 to 1.3∶28.7∶70 in 2006. And clearly put forward to vigorously develop high-tech industries and modern service industries. In 2006, the added value of Shanghai's primary industry was 93,865.438 billion yuan, that of the secondary industry was 499,786.5438 billion yuan, and that of the tertiary industry was 520.535 billion yuan, accounting for 50.55% of the city's regional GDP. The tertiary industry has surpassed the secondary industry.
The adjustment of economic structure and the transformation of economic growth mode have reduced the dependence of cities on resources, created more free development space, formed an economical and ecological city, and promoted the change or transformation of urban nature. Some cities have changed from traditional industrial production bases and manufacturing centers to economic centers, financial centers, cultural centers and science and technology centers.
2. The urban spatial form has changed from single urban development to urban agglomeration development.
The overall development of regional economy and the integration of urban and rural areas are universal phenomena and development laws in the world. The urban development of China, especially the development of big cities, has gradually entered the development period of urban agglomeration, urban belt and urban circle. This is not only the requirement of the development of big cities, such as the outward transfer of some industries, the adjustment of urban spatial layout, the improvement of urban ecological environment and the need of urban housing construction. It is also the requirement and trend of regional economic development, and requires big cities to support and cooperate with surrounding areas and small and medium-sized cities to realize the overall prosperity and common development of regional economy. The four major urban agglomerations along the eastern coast of China are the regions with the most obvious economic development and social progress in China, with a regional area of 273,700 square kilometers, accounting for 2.85% of the country. The total population of urban agglomeration reached 65.438+0.6 billion, accounting for 654.38+0.3% of the whole country. The GDP of the four major urban agglomerations accounts for 35% of the country. Among them, Shanghai, the largest city in China, is the leader of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration and economic zone; Guangzhou and Shenzhen undoubtedly play the role of central cities in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration; Beijing and Tianjin are the core cities of Bohai Bay urban agglomeration and economic zone. Other big cities, such as Chongqing, Wuhan, Xi, Shenyang, Chengdu and Changsha, are the core cities in the economic zone and urban agglomeration where these cities are located. In the process of the formation and development of urban agglomerations, big cities, as central cities, are bound to support each other, develop harmoniously and cooperate with surrounding cities. To some extent, the economic center of big cities is the role of urban agglomerations. In 2005, the total GDP of the Yangtze River Delta 16 cities reached 3,385.9 billion yuan, accounting for 18.57% of the national GDP and 83.03% of the total GDP of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai provinces of 4078 107 billion yuan. Among them, eight cities in Jiangsu exceeded 1.4 trillion yuan, accounting for 43.1%of the total in the Yangtze River Delta; Seven cities in Zhejiang exceeded 1 trillion yuan, accounting for 29.9%; Shanghai exceeds 900 billion yuan, accounting for 27%.
The urbanization of some economically developed countries in the west has experienced the process from centralized urbanization to decentralized urbanization. Although China's urbanization is still in the stage of centralized urbanization, due to the rise of urban agglomerations and the development of regional economy, economically developed areas such as the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta have faced the situation of simultaneous promotion of centralized urbanization and decentralized urbanization, and urban-rural integration has shown a rapid expansion trend.
3. The urban development goal has changed from a single economic goal to a "people-oriented" all-round development and comprehensive function.
No matter before or after the reform and opening-up, the functions of many cities are either simple, deformed or even deformed urban development. Some cities overemphasize the production function, unilaterally understand that economic construction is the center, and even only pursue GDP growth. Resource cities and industrial and mining cities have a single product and low industrial structure, ignoring the all-round development of cities and the improvement of urban taste, and paying no attention to social harmony, cultural construction and environmental protection, resulting in so-called urban diseases such as disparity between the rich and the poor, environmental deterioration, serious pollution, increased crime, housing difficulties and traffic congestion. Since the beginning of the 20th century, under the guidance of Scientific Outlook on Development, we have gradually changed the concept of urban development, adhered to the basic principle of "people-oriented", took the improvement of residents' quality of life as the highest goal, adjusted urban development policies, strengthened the social and cultural functions of cities, paid attention to comprehensively improving residents' quality, and created a scientific, civilized and harmonious city. Cities not only play a leading role in economic construction and economic strength, but also play an exemplary role in building spiritual civilization and building a harmonious society. Therefore, in recent years, while continuing to strengthen economic construction and economic strength, many cities have paid more attention to social development, environmental governance and cultural construction, so as to realize the all-round and harmonious development of cities and avoid and overcome the diseases of big cities to the greatest extent. Beijing and other big cities have put forward the development direction and goal of building a livable city. Although this is a process, there are many difficulties and it will take a long time to achieve this goal. For a big city like Beijing, this is a historic turning point in urban development, a change in urban development concept and a reflection of "people-oriented" urban development. We can't agree with the argument that big cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou can infinitely increase their population, excessively expand their economic capacity and abnormally consume resources and energy for the sake of national or regional economic development and international economic competitiveness. Because this view is not suitable for China's national conditions, does not conform to the trend of the times, goes against the fundamental purpose of urban construction and development, is not conducive to the development of other cities and regions, is not conducive to the balanced development of regions and the establishment of a harmonious society.
4. The urban development mode has changed from focusing only on the development of science and technology and productivity to focusing on urban characteristics and brands.
Cities are representatives of advanced technology and productive forces, and we must unswervingly continue to give play to this advantage. But cities in different countries and regions have their own characteristics and brands. Big cities have the advantages of big cities, and small cities have the characteristics and brands of small cities. Only by fully excavating and developing the city's characteristics and brands can the city get better development and give full play to the advantages of science and technology and productivity. /kloc-In the past 0/0 years, China has paid more and more attention to characteristics and brands. As the capital of People's Republic of China (PRC) and a famous historical and cultural city, Beijing makes full use of its position and corresponding advantages, not only develops high-tech industries economically, establishes science and technology parks, and takes the lead in establishing CBD, headquarters economy, exhibition economy and cultural and creative industries in China, but also takes advantage of the rare opportunity of winning the Olympic bid to vigorously develop the Olympic economy, promote the development of related industries, and strengthen urban infrastructure construction and environmental governance. Expand exchanges and contacts with all walks of life in the world, cultivate and exercise residents' international awareness and diplomatic ability, improve residents' moral cultivation and etiquette level, reflect the fashion of Beijing's historical and cultural city and the characteristics of an international metropolis, and create a new brand of Beijing, thus greatly improving Beijing's attraction and popularity. Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Chongqing and other cities are all like this. Or use the resources of the city, especially tourism and historical and cultural resources, or through special activities, or making special products, or through special events. , thus making Shanghai a brand and a city's characteristics, attracting the attention of the whole world and promoting the development of the city.
5. The city's external relations have changed from pure competition to the combination of competition and cooperation.
The economic competition between countries and regions is often manifested in the competition between cities, especially among big cities. Since the day when cities came into being, the competition between cities has been extremely fierce. However, in the new economic development pattern and situation, especially in the case of economic globalization, competition and cooperation have become two sides of the same thing. Competition needs cooperation, which is conducive to cooperation, and cooperation cannot be separated from competition, which is the basis of cooperation. This is especially obvious in big cities, and it has formed an extremely complicated relationship. No matter whether it is international or domestic, there are countless connections not only between big cities, but also between big cities and small and medium-sized cities. Therefore, the competition among big cities is still extremely fierce, but at the same time, there are more and more cooperation and interdependence. Even in an economic zone or urban agglomeration, there is a dual relationship between competition and cooperation. You can't just cooperate without competition, or just emphasize competition without cooperation. Competition promotes cooperation, and cooperation is conducive to a wider range of competition. In short, under the new economic structure and situation, based on competition; At the same time, actively promoting cooperation has become the norm and trend of developing foreign economic relations in big cities.
Third, correctly treat the regional differences of urban modernization.
Urban modernization is a process, in which different cities are at different stages. The above is the overall characteristics of China's urban modernization at present. The differences between cities in modernization are very obvious, and a considerable part of them are closely related to the level of regional economic development, thus forming regional differences in urban modernization:
1. Difference of urbanization level
Unbalanced regional economic development is a remarkable feature of China's economic development, which is especially obvious in urban development. Since the reform and opening up, due to the differences in location, scale, resources, history, tradition and talents, the urbanization process and the speed of urban economic development are not the same. At the beginning of reform and opening up, cities in the eastern coastal areas developed rapidly with superior location, talent advantages, convenient transportation and other conditions, coupled with preferential policies of the state. For example, Shenzhen, Xiamen and other special zone cities, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other 14 open cities have developed much faster than some cities in the mainland for a long period of time; Big cities and provincial capitals take advantage of some administrative advantages, such as administrative center, project layout and financial inclination. And it is developing faster than other non-capital cities. Driven by the role of central cities, cities and towns have also increased rapidly, and the economy in the eastern coastal areas has developed rapidly and the level of urbanization has been continuously improved, while the cities in other regions have developed slowly and the gap has been increasing.
According to the statistics in 2005, except for three municipalities directly under the central government, the urbanization rate of six provinces and regions such as Guangdong has exceeded 50%. The urbanization rate of Guangdong Province in 2005 and 2006 reached 60.08% and 63% respectively. At the same time, the urbanization rate of seven provinces and regions in China is still below 35%, and three provinces and regions are even less than 30%. (See table below)
Urbanization is an important symbol of modernization. Generally speaking, the level of urbanization is consistent with the level of economic development and modernization. In areas with high urbanization rate, the higher the level of economic development, and vice versa. In areas with rapid economic development, the process of urbanization is also faster, thus making urbanization at a higher level. Of course, urbanization is not the only indicator to measure the level of economic development.
2. Differences in the level of economic development
The difference of economic development level is more obvious, which can be manifested in many aspects, and the per capita GDP reflects its difference more prominently. In 2005, Suzhou (66,766 yuan), Dongying (64,906 yuan), Wuxi (62,323 yuan) and Shenzhen (6080 1 yuan) all exceeded 60,000 yuan; Guangzhou (53,809 yuan), Shanghai (5 1.474 yuan) and other cities are between 50,000 and 60,000 yuan, while Beijing and many cities in the east have reached more than 40,000 yuan, and the per capita GDP of some cities in the central and western regions is less than 3,000 yuan. For example, Dingxi City, Gansu Province (2,394 yuan), Longnan City (2,729 yuan) and Guyuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (2,973 yuan). The height difference is more than 20 times.
3. Differences in residents' income and life
The per capita disposable income of urban families not only represents the level of urban economic development, but also reflects people's income and living standards, which is closely related to people's cultural, educational and medical levels. In 2005, Shenzhen 27596 yuan, Dongguan 20526 yuan, Wenzhou 17727 yuan, Guangzhou 16884 yuan, Shanghai 16683 yuan, Foshan 16045 yuan, etc. These cities all exceeded 1.6 million yuan, Beijing. However, the per capita disposable income of urban families in some cities is only 4,000-5,000 yuan, such as 4,987 yuan in Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province, 504 1 yuan in Heihe City and 587 1 yuan in Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province, which is 4-5 times different from the highest cities.
4. Differences in urban construction level
Due to the differences in economic strength, fiscal revenue, fixed assets investment and the ability to attract foreign investment, the industrial construction, main projects and municipal facilities construction of cities are far from each other. There are obvious differences in transportation, communication facilities, public transportation, water and electricity supply, environmental management, ecological construction, health institutions, educational facilities, medical equipment and welfare facilities.
Regional differences in urban development are reflected in many aspects. The problem is how to treat these regional differences correctly in the process of urban modernization. First of all, the modernization of cities is a long-term process. At a certain stage or period in this process, the speed and level of development can not be the same, but there will always be differences, which is the objective law of urban development; Second, the regional differences of cities are caused by many factors, and the development opportunities and construction environment of different cities in different periods are not the same. For example, in the early days of reform and opening up, it brought rare development opportunities to coastal open cities, provincial capital cities and regional economic center cities. It may bring more favorable development opportunities to other cities in the future development; Third, the development of a city depends on the characteristics of the city, not on the total economic development and the size of the city. There are comparable and incomparable aspects between cities, and the key is the goal and policy of urban development; Fourth, urban development and construction should adhere to the "people-oriented" principle, so that residents can obtain a satisfactory, safe, comfortable and harmonious life and a beautiful ecological environment; Fifth, urban modernization is a comprehensive, dynamic and comprehensive concept, and it is also a relative concept, and there is no absolute standard. The realization or basic realization of modernization can only be a general time expectation, and no specific time limit can be set. Urban modernization does not mean that the faster GDP growth, the better; The more urban hardware construction, the better; The bigger the square, the more modern it is. The most important standard and requirement of urban modernization must be people-oriented, so that residents can enjoy a scientific, comfortable and healthy (psychological and physical) quality of life. Living in a city with beautiful environment, rich economy, harmonious society and diverse cultures.
Urban development and construction, urban modernization is an endless process, which is not only influenced and restricted by the whole international and domestic economic environment and urban development laws, but also engraved with its own unique urban development track and ethnic regional style.