World Bank to help tackle China's urbanisation

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has pledged to help Beijing come to terms with the migration of millions into the mainland's fast-developing cities.

The new joint study was suggested by premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang when the pair met this week during Kim's first official visit to China.

The World Bank says that by 2030, nearly two-thirds of the nation's population is expected to be living in urban areas.

That means about 14 million more people will flow into cities every year. Kim said at a media briefing to conclude his visit that China was a country "that has made a remarkable achievement in lifting 600 million people out of poverty in the past three decades, but still faces the challenge today of being home to the second-largest number of poor in the world".

According to a Xinhua report, Li told Kim that China's development remains "very imbalanced", particularly due to the huge gap between urban and rural areas. But Li said: "The gap also means potential. Urbanisation will provide the biggest development potential for the next few decades."

The new study will be designed to help not only China, but all developing countries faced with a massive influx of people into cities.

Kim, appointed head of the World Bank in July, praised Li's enthusiasm for working out a strategy to deal with urbanisation. He was also optimistic about China's economic growth under the new leadership.