Fuzhou, Nov 2. (Xinhua/GNA) – Valuable lessons for global urban development can be drawn from China’s people-centered approach to urban renewal, Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations under-secretary-general and executive director of UN-Habitat, said during the Global Observance of World Cities Day in China’s Fuzhou.
Under the theme “Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All,” the activities in Fuzhou, capital of east China’s Fujian Province, brought together city leaders, planners and other stakeholders to discuss global housing challenges from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
UN-Habitat’s World Cities Report 2026 estimates that up to 3.4 billion people lack access to secure, safe and adequate housing, including more than 1 billion people living in informal settlements and slums. Rossbach called for scaling up inclusive urban regeneration efforts to address this crisis.
Describing China’s urban transformation experience as “fantastic,” Rossbach said the country’s approach to urban development offers valuable lessons, particularly in its growing emphasis on people-centered, neighborhood-level solutions.
Rossbach also pointed to China’s efforts to balance cultural heritage preservation with modernisation. “In Chinese cities, they all work together in a very balanced way,” she noted.
This approach is reflected in Jingdezhen, China’s “porcelain capital.” Located in Jiangxi Province in the country’s east, it was among five cities honoured with the fourth-cycle Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities (Shanghai Award).
Jingdezhen has combined the preservation of its centuries-old ceramic heritage with inclusive neighbourhood renewal, improvements to older residential areas and expanded public services.
The Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Sites, notably, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2026.
China has set a target of renovating 1,500 old streets and factory compounds from 2026 to 2030, bringing in new industries and business models to inject fresh momentum into urban development.
During her visit to Fuzhou, Rossbach toured a regenerated old town quarter where historic buildings have been preserved and new buildings have been designed in traditional architectural styles.
She was impressed by the bustling street life and the local application of the “proximity” concept, which clusters services, commercial outlets and public transport links for residents’ convenience.
Rossbach also highlighted China’s attention to vulnerable groups in urban renewal, such as children, older people and persons with disabilities. She recalled seeing elderly residents practicing tai chi and children playing in public spaces during an earlier visit to Beijing.
Under the national urban renewal plan (2026-2030) released earlier this year, China aims to launch renovations of 115,000 old urban residential compounds, retrofit or install 575,000 residential elevators, and build or upgrade 50,000 hectares of urban green space.
“The solution is not just building houses. It’s not enough. This is the main lesson that we learned from China. You have to create the conditions for people to live together,” the UN-Habitat chief said.
Adequate housing, she explained, involved not only affordability and accessibility but also good connectivity to urban infrastructure, cultural adequacy and climate resilience.
“We learned from many examples, including here in Fuzhou, how important it is to work with communities to understand what their vision for the city is, what their aspirations and expectations are, so that they can be reflected in city planning and housing policies,” Rossbach added.
The three-day event was jointly organised by China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Fujian provincial government and UN-Habitat.
GNA