Beijing Marks Six Years Of Population Control And Distribution Efforts

Beijing has successfully maintained its permanent population below the 23 million cap for six consecutive years since 2017, as revealed in a municipal conference. This achievement marks Beijing as China's first megacity to achieve population reduction.

The research team from the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference reported that while the city's population remains stable, its distribution is becoming more balanced. The core functional areas and central urban districts have seen a steady decline in population. Conversely, the city's sub-center, new towns, and ecological conservation areas have experienced growth.

According to Xinhua, this shift has led to a more distributed population structure. The proportion of residents in the six central districts decreased from 60 percent in 2015 to 50 percent by 2023. Meanwhile, the share of residents in the ten outlying districts increased accordingly.

Beijing also boasts a high concentration of talent, with three-quarters of this pool located in the six central districts. The city has the highest density of talent in China. Additionally, Beijing's life expectancy reached 82.49 years in 2020, which is 4.56 years higher than the national average.

Gu Shuzhong, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, suggested that achieving a balanced distribution of work and residential areas across the city is essential. He recommended orderly relocating municipal universities and state-owned enterprises from central districts to outer areas.

The research team emphasised that Beijing should continue its dual approach of relieving overburdened areas while supporting emerging ones. Coordination between central urban districts and new towns is crucial for sustainable development.

In conclusion, Beijing's efforts to balance its population distribution are yielding positive results. The city's strategic approach ensures both stability and growth across various regions.

With inputs from WAM