The State Council Information Office held a press conference on the theme of "Promoting High-Quality Development" at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 23. Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong attended to brief the media and answer questions.

At the press conference, Ni Hong stated that high-quality development is the primary task of building a modern socialist country in all respects and the absolute principle of the new era. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has thoroughly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and directives on housing and urban-rural construction work, fully, accurately and comprehensively applied the new development philosophy, worked hard and forged ahead, and achieved new accomplishments in the high-quality development of housing and urban-rural construction, making positive contributions to advancing Chinese modernization.

First, in housing and real estate, we have continued to optimize real estate policies, improve the housing security system, and strive to ensure that all people have a place to live. By the end of 2023, China's per capita urban housing floor area exceeded 40 square meters; more than 64 million units of various types of government-subsidized housing and shantytown redevelopment resettlement housing had been built, enabling more than 150 million people to realize their dream of adequate housing, and basically ensuring that low-income and lower-middle-income families with housing difficulties have access to housing.

Second, in urban work, we have solidly advanced urban renewal actions, renovated old urban residential communities, accelerated urban infrastructure construction, and worked hard to promote high-quality urban development. By the end of 2023, China's urban built-up area reached 64,000 square kilometers, the urbanization rate of permanent residents reached 66.16%, and more than 930 million people lived in cities and towns. Urban functions have been continuously improved, and the urban living environment has continued to improve. More than 250,000 old urban residential communities have been renovated, benefiting more than 44 million households and about 110 million people.

Third, in the development of the construction industry, we have deepened reform of the construction industry, advanced its industrialization, digitalization and green transformation and upgrading, and worked hard to contribute to economic development and the improvement of people's livelihoods. In 2023, the total output value of the construction industry reached 31.6 trillion yuan, with value added reaching 8.6 trillion yuan, accounting for 6.8% of GDP, and employing more than 50 million people.

In Chinese modernization, people's livelihoods are of paramount importance. A strong focus on people's livelihoods is the most prominent feature of housing and urban-rural construction work. Next, we will thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, uphold the principle of putting the people first, focus on the prominent contradictions constraining the high-quality development of housing and urban-rural construction, take consolidating the foundation and deepening reform as the main line, focus on improving mechanisms, systems and the rule of law, and take ensuring that the people live in good houses that are green, low-carbon, intelligent and safe as the starting point. We will coordinate and advance reforms in all areas of housing and urban-rural construction, accelerate the construction of a new model for real estate development, deeply implement urban renewal actions, further promote the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry, systematically carry out the construction of "good houses, good residential communities, good neighborhoods and good urban areas," build livable, resilient and smart cities, promote the common prosperity and development of urban and rural areas, and through pragmatic actions continuously meet the people's aspirations for a better life and contribute to further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization.

Next, the main reform tasks that need to be carried out are as follows:

First, build a new model for real estate development. This can be summarized in four aspects: First, in terms of philosophy, deeply understand the positioning that "houses are for living in, not for speculation," and build good houses that meet the new expectations of the people. Second, in terms of the system, rely mainly on the government to meet rigid housing demand and mainly on the market to meet diversified demand for improved housing. Third, in terms of institutions, reform and improve the systems for real estate development, transactions and use, and consolidate the institutional foundation for the transformation and development of real estate. Fourth, in terms of factor allocation, establish a new mechanism for the coordinated allocation of factors including people, housing, land and capital.

At present, major changes have taken place in the relationship between supply and demand in the real estate market, and the market is still in a period of adjustment. With the implementation of various policies, positive changes have appeared in the market. From the perspective of China's urbanization process and the people's new expectations for good houses, the real estate market still has great potential and room for growth. As long as we remain confident, implement city-specific policies and vigorously ensure implementation, we can promote the steady and healthy development of the real estate market.

Second, establish a new mechanism for urban planning, construction and governance. We will adhere to the principle that "people's cities are built by the people and for the people," adapt to the new requirements of urban development entering the urban renewal stage, further deepen reform of urban planning, construction and governance, establish sustainable urban renewal models and policies and regulations, adhere to "diagnosis first, renewal second," and make the problems found in diagnosis the focus of renewal. We will build livable, resilient and smart cities so that the people can live in cities more conveniently, comfortably and pleasantly.

Third, promote the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry. We will adhere to standards-led and technology-empowered development, focus on reforming and improving a package of foundational systems including construction project bidding, project supervision, project cost and completion acceptance, strive to build a modern construction industry system, create a market environment that is honest and law-abiding, fair in competition and quality-oriented, promote the high-quality development of the construction industry, and strive to provide high-quality construction products to society as a whole.