The lessons that China has learned from coping with an explosive rate of growth of its urban population can be put into practice in developing economies around the world, say analysts.
'The world faces a challenge of rapid urbanisation, and China stands out as a striking success in managing this challenge,' said Paul Romer, economics professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University.
'China can help the world urbanise and profit by it, with Chinese companies providing infrastructure construction and large-scale real estate development,' said Romer, who is also president of Charter Cities, a US urban research organisation.
He made the remarks during a recent visit to Hong Kong. They were echoed by Steven Townsend, global director of urban design at Woods Bagot, an Australian architectural and urban design firm.
The strengths of China's urbanisation which can be exported to other countries facing the same challenges include its ability to implement large-scale urban solutions and infrastructure such as linking its cities by high-speed rail, Townsend said. One reason for China's successful urbanisation is the firm control over planning by the central government.
Romer said the challenge to national governments was to strike the right balance between being authoritarian in certain aspects and letting market forces take charge in other areas - for example, where universities, restaurants and shops would appear. He said it was striking that rapid urbanisation in China had not led to the growth of slums.
'To prevent the growth of slums, the Chinese government enforced a requirement that every home should be connected to a sewage system. This has been a real success, and it amazes people in India and Latin America that China is a strong state that enforces laws.'
