China unveils pilot program on provincial territorial planning

BEIJING -- China unveiled a pilot program on provincial territorial planning on Monday to upgrade the country's capability and efficiency in managing territory. 
 

The program was issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council.
    

Seven provincial-level regions, including Jilin, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi and Henan, are newly included in the pilot program, in addition to Hainan and Ningxia, which were part of the previous trial program.
    

Under the program, urban space, agricultural space, ecological space and the "red line," or bottom line, for ecological protection in pilot areas will be clearly defined.
    

The boundary between urban development and permanent farmland will also be defined, according to the program.
    

The program has set goals to improve the country's development quality and efficiency of resource use to achieve a sustainable environment.