China With More Urban Than Rural Population Now

Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/cnforbiddennews Like us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/chinaforbiddennews According to China's statistics, in 2011, over 50% of the population lived in urban areas. For the first time in China's history, urban population exceeds the number of people living in the rural regions. Scholars point out that China's policy is not ready for farmers to move to the cities. As migrant workers are treated unfairly, the social conflict can only intensify. Statistics from January 17 indicate, in 2011 China's urban population was 690 million, or 21 million more than in 2010. Population in rural areas was 657 million, or 14.6 million less; thus 51.27% of China's population lives in urban areas now. This is the first time in China's history, when the urban population exceeds the rural population. Feng Xingyuan, deputy director of Beijing Uni-rule Institute of Economics, believes farmers are forced to shift to cities, when their land is expropriated. However, many practices on how to handle the farmland are illegal. Feng Xingyuan: "If it is illegal, farmers can take it back. At least, the authorities should arrange the compensation. Now the land expropriation does not meet civil procedures, nor the contract law." Sun Wenguang, a retired professor from Shandong University, said China's policies are not ready for farmers moving to cities. Now migrant workers can not be counted as city citizens, according to China's policies. There is household registration system restriction, and many unfair treatments exist. Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) regime doesn't welcome farmers moving to cities, but has no way to stop them either. Prof. Sun: "The ruling groups only care about minority's interests, they only treat farmers as cheap labours in cities. Many policies contain the discrimination of farmers living in cities. Farmers do not have rights to use national health care, nor governmental funds for low income families." The urbanization will worsen traffic congestion, housing shortage and other issues. In addition, the CCP policies exacerbate social conflicts, provoking protests and resistance. Prof. Sun: "More migrant workers coming to the cities, will expose more social conflicts. Migrant workers are discriminated, they demand their rights, putting some pressure on the society and the CCP." Voice of America quoted China's socio-economic expert, Cheng Xiaonong's comments on the issue. Cheng says that in other countries urbanization is a natural process, but in China is entirely enforced by the government.. According to Cheng, farmers were forced to live in towns, which happened in many areas. For example, Bo Xilai promotes this policy in Chongqing, in order to change rural areas into city level areas. They built new town buildings, forcing farmers to move in, thinking "urbanization" can be achieved this way. Cheng Xiaonong believes that when farmers live in cities, they can be treated as city residents and share national welfare. However, if farmers live in cities but never have the same rights as city citizens, can they actually be called city citizens? Feng Xingyuan said, implementation of urbanization should allow people to be equal; current policies need to be reviewed. At the moment however, China lacks strength on a decision-making level. Feng Xingyuan: "In country areas they should ease household registration system (Hukou) and its management function. Hukou system should be used for information and population management purposes only, not for administration. And shouldn't be used to divide the population into urban and rural class citizens." Cheng Xiaonong points out that many local governments are focused on "urbanization." However, behind it lies the evil intention to grab the farmland illegally, not missing the chance to make money from real estate. NTD reporters Chen Han, Song Feng and Wang Mingyu 《神韵》2011世界巡演新亮点 http://www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org/