At a series-themed press conference on "Promoting High-Quality Development" held by the State Council Information Office on August 23, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development stated that it will work with relevant departments to guide all localities in resolutely implementing the requirements of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, step up the construction and supply of affordable housing, and focus on four areas of work: planning formulation, institutional improvement, project construction, and "good housing" demonstration projects.

In accordance with the arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has strengthened overall planning and guided all localities to simultaneously advance the construction of sale-type affordable housing and the supply of rental-type affordable housing, resolving the housing problems of new urban residents, young people and other groups through diversified and multi-form approaches such as "a bed, a room, an apartment." In the first seven months of this year, 2.35 million units (rooms) of affordable housing and urban village renovation resettlement housing were started and raised nationwide, with investment exceeding 440 billion yuan, delivering a hard-won achievement. The series of pragmatic measures proposed at this press conference fully demonstrate the precision, intensity, speed and warmth of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in advancing this work.

Precision: targeted measures adapted to local conditions. Affordable housing planning is an important component of housing development planning. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development guides all localities to proceed from their local economic capacity, real estate market conditions and the housing needs of various disadvantaged groups, adhere to building and purchasing according to demand, and formulate five-year plans and annual plans for affordable housing tailored to local conditions. Affordable housing is given priority in areas with convenient transportation and relatively complete public facilities, promoting a balance between work and residence. In addition, the Ministry summarizes and promotes the experience and practices of relevant cities, establishes and improves waiting lists for eligible households, implements routine application acceptance, and accurately grasps the specific needs of eligible households.

Intensity: doing our utmost while acting within our means. At the national level, a series of policy documents on planning and building affordable housing have been issued, forming a relatively complete policy system. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development guides all localities, in accordance with the national top-level design and in light of local realities, to do their utmost while acting within their means, promptly introduce specific implementation opinions, management measures and supporting policies, further refine and improve specific requirements on eligible groups, forms of support, standards of support, and allocation management, and carry out all work vigorously, in an orderly and effective manner.

Speed: striking while the iron is hot and stepping up the pace. For projects included in this year's construction plan, support policies on fiscal and taxation matters, land, and finance should be implemented, project commencement and construction progress accelerated, project quality and safety supervision strengthened, and allocation for rent and sale launched as early as possible so that people can move in sooner. Project planning and reserves should also be strengthened, preliminary work for projects in the next two years done well, and a rolling project advancement mechanism of "implementing a batch, reserving a batch, and planning a batch" formed. At the same time, in light of local real estate market conditions, efforts should be actively made to purchase completed existing commercial housing for use as affordable housing, and projects with mature conditions should be helped to complete purchases quickly and be allocated for rent and sale in a timely manner.

Warmth: sincerely serving the people and ensuring quality housing. Affordable housing is a government project and a project that wins public support. Affordable housing should be built as "good housing" even more; this is something the government should do and should do well. At present, all localities have identified a batch of affordable housing demonstration projects, carrying out "good housing" construction in accordance with the requirements of "green, low-carbon, intelligent and safe," continuously improving the quality of affordable housing, and striving to enable the people to live healthily, safely and conveniently.

The construction and supply of affordable housing is a splendid chapter in the triumphant song of the people's secure living. We have the confidence, the conditions and the ability to accelerate project commencement and construction, promote the effective implementation of support policies, complete all targets and tasks, and help realize the goal of building tens of millions of houses and fulfilling the people's dream of secure living.