The Chinese government website released the "Guiding Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Promoting the Relocation and Transformation of Old Urban Industrial Areas" on the 11th.

    The opinions point out that in recent years, the relocation and transformation of old urban industrial areas in many cities have achieved certain results, but problems such as unreasonable development positioning, unscientific selection of relocation destinations for enterprises, incomplete treatment of contaminated land, extensive land use, large-scale demolition and construction, and a single financing channel are relatively prominent and urgently require strengthened standardization and guidance.

    The opinions propose striving to basically complete the task of relocating and transforming old urban industrial areas by 2022, and building them into modern urban areas with a prosperous economy, complete functions, and an ecologically livable environment.

    The opinions clearly put forward several basic principles. They propose further streamlining administration and delegating power, and leaving to the market all matters that can be resolved through market mechanisms. Full consideration should be given to location conditions, resource endowments, development foundations, and environmental carrying capacity; in conjunction with the overall urban development layout, directions and goals should be reasonably determined, and efforts should be made to explore relocation and transformation methods with distinctive characteristics. Organizational models, funding models, public service facility construction and operation models, and land treatment and development-utilization models should be innovated to mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties. Enterprise relocation should be combined with technological transformation and restructuring, with emphasis on expanding employment and increasing residents' incomes, improving basic public service levels, and safeguarding and improving people's livelihoods.

    The opinions make clear that in the implementation process, all localities should scientifically prepare implementation plans for relocation and transformation. Enterprise relocation and transformation should be promoted, and enterprises in old urban industrial areas should, as appropriate, be subject to on-site transformation, relocation to another site, or lawful closure, respectively. Relocation destinations for enterprises should be reasonably selected; according to the industrial types and development directions of the relocated enterprises, enterprises should be guided to relocate to qualified parks such as economic and technological development zones and high-tech industrial development zones, so as to promote clustered industrial development.

    The opinions propose cultivating and developing new industries and making full use of vacated land, with priority given to developing modern service industries. Urban infrastructure and public service facilities should be improved, including pipeline networks, transportation, information, and other infrastructure, and the layout of public service facilities should be optimized. The ecological environment should be treated and restored, and distinctive ecological landscapes should be created according to local conditions. In the process of relocation and transformation, the transformation of shantytowns should be accelerated, and the protection and reuse of industrial heritage should be strengthened.

    The opinions emphasize that all localities should broaden funding channels and encourage banking financial institutions, enterprises, social capital, financial leasing companies, and others to participate in enterprise relocation and transformation; support from land policies should be increased; and organizational leadership should be strengthened to ensure that all measures are implemented and produce real results. The opinions also determine a division-of-labor table among departments for key tasks.