China approves Changzhou development plan

BEIJING - China's State Council, the cabinet, has approved a 10-year development plan for the city of Changzhou in East China's Jiangsu province, a government statement announced.

The plan, covering the 2011-2020 period, was drawn up by Changzhou municipality and sent to the cabinet for application before its approval, according to the statement issued by the General Office of the State Council late on Friday.

Unanimous management will integrate both townships and rural areas in a planned city acreage of 1,872 square km, according to the plan, which also aims to keep the city's population under 2.48 million by 2020.

The city is also targeting improvements to infrastructure and facilities involving public transport, water supplies, sewage and garbage treatment, under the plan.

It aims to build itself into a city that is frugal in resources use and environmentally friendly, by strictly controlling the development of industries that demand high amounts of energy and pollute the environment, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Changzhou will improve people's education and healthcare. It will also attach importance to preserving history and culture by protecting ancient towns and villages, according to the plan.

Situated in China's prosperous east, Changzhou is halfway between Shanghai and Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province. It is an ancient historical and cultural city with a recorded history of 3,200 years.