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On January 23, 2005, Mayor Wang Qishan reported his government's work in 2004 to the annual session of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress. According to the report, achieving sustainable development and improving the lives of Beijing's 15 million residents was of primary importance for the coming years.
In official terminology, the "scientific outlook on development"was a key point in the mayor's 2005 report. It obliges governments at all levels in the Beijing area to pursue balanced economic growth, while ensuring environment protection and ecological conservation. It calls for the development of natural and human resources in a way that will eventually result in the creation of a "harmonious society of socialism"in the Chinese capital.
The State Council approved the Beijing Urban Development Plan (2004-20) on January 12, 2005. Beijing is to be positioned as a "modern metropolis, capital of culture and a pleasing city."In addition, the government has put forward the city's new development strategy of "perfecting two axes, developing two belts and building multiple centres."
Because of the need for sustainable development and because of city traffic problems, planners are intent on replacing "one city centre"with a multi-polar, polycentric plan. This plan moves downtown residential populations out to new districts such as Tongzhou, Shunyi and other districts. In peripheral areas, Beijing is to construct new modern satellite cities with populations of more than half-million people each. Education, culture, public health and commercial industries will be encouraged to develop in these satellite cities. For example, Shunyi will evolve into a middle-sized city featuring automobile, microelectronic and modern logistics industries.
Beijing will not be abandoned but authorities will take action to protect the old town centre, which houses most of the city's ancient cultural sites