On 31 August the Nanjing Bureau of City Planning held a joint panel discussion with selected foreign representatives at the bureau’s offices in Gulou. The aim of the discussion was to ask for input from the foreign community with regards to the future of development in Nanjing, while additionally further bridging the gap between Chinese governmental organisations and the foreign community.
These days are ushering in the beginning of China’s 5th National Urban Plan. Every 20 years, governments across China get together to plan out their respective city’s 20-year plan of urban development.
Those who have been living in China for some time will know just how fast and efficient infrastructure development can be. This is mostly due to prior planning on behalf of the government to ensure development runs smoothly.
China’s well known 5-year social and economic plans differ from urban development plans in so far as urban plans last for an additional 15 years. The first round of urban development planning came about in the 1980’s, with the second taking place in the 1990’s.
By 2001, the third round of urban planning that year set about modifying the previous plan. The fourth was for the years between 2011 and 2020, while the fifth plan (that is in process now) begins now, with construction starting in 2018 with 2040 as its deadline.
This event was the very first time foreigners have been given a look behind the curtain at Nanjing’s urban development team. Selected foreign representatives from around the globe and living in Nanjing for an extensive time were invited; they hailing from various places including Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, Africa, Japan and Korea.
Foreign attendees were asked to openly give input from a foreign perspective on what they think has improved in and around the city and what could be made better. Panel member from Japan, hotel boss Mr. Hirokazu, commented that from a health perspective, hospital facilities could be improved, while Canadian company director Ms. Lin mentioned the many visa hassles foreigners must put up with every year and added that parking in Nanjing and traffic needs improvement.
Russian Nanjing University member of the panel Ms. Politave remarked that the public bikes, as useful as they are, have become a real bother blocking roads and pathways. The Nanjinger’s Editor in Chief Frank Hossack spoke openly about e-bike nuisances, visa problems and controversies surrounding the state of Nanjing’s famous Pingshi Jie.
Some of the questions put to the panel were:
- What is your impression of Nanjing’s living environment?
- What are the good aspects and parts that need to be improved? Talking about life services for international friends in Nanjing, which parts do you think need improvement, for example international schools, international hospitals and international communities?
- What do you think of Nanjing’s environment for innovation and entrepreneurship?
- What do you think is the biggest advantage or disadvantage of science and technology with regards to Nanjing innovation? Do you have some suggestions?
- What do you think of the development of Nanjing’s leisure tourism?
- Where do you usually spend your weekend for leisure?
- What’s the blueprint for Nanjing in your mind?
- What kind of city do you expect Nanjing to become in the future?
- What’s your vision for a happy life?
If you have been living in China for more than 2 years, feel free to share your thoughts on the city’s urban planning with us at The Nanjinger, answering the questions above if possible. The Nanjinger shall then to share such responses with the Nanjing Bureau of City Planning. Email us here: thenanjinger@sinoconnexion.com.
