Liu Zhe

There are 4 topics for Group Discussion: The Future We Want on the morning of September 18. Each group will focus on one topic as follows and give a presentation by the representative of your group. "

Urbanization (Group A)

In Latin rules, urbanization means a kind of culture, gathering people with organizational structure. In Chinese there are two characters of urbanization, castle and market. City is the combination of castle and market, where people exchange information and products with enforced government sections including police, treasury and other institutions. The feature of the city is that you have very concentrated resources, economy, and population and a city is service oriented.

In agriculture dominated society, the urbanization rate is very low. 1949 the urbanization rate of China is only 12.5%. In 1978 the figure was 17.8%. For some 20 years, urbanization could be a very slow process. Only 5.3% increased in urbanization rate. In 2011 urbanization rate of China achieved 51.27%.

With urbanization how far we can go? In China, there are two kinds of statistical numbers for urbanization. (1) Statistical number 51.3%. (2) There are many marginal people in urban places, who are rural migrants. They have no houses, no school for children, no hospital for the ill. The figure was 250million of these people, who are not entitled to the urban services. This is different from developed countries, where there is no inefficient urbanization. Consolidate this part of population, provide equal urban services to this huge number of people is very important to real urbanization.

With such situation, what to do? First, we have to legislate the policy to enforce the implementation. People are legally included within the urban community. Second, buildings for the poor are essential. Now in China, housing price is more expensive than in the UK and US. The housing price is as high as 10 thousand USD per square meter within 4 rings in Beijing. Rural migrant workers, whose salary are only 1500 RMB per month, which is 300USD per month. They would never have a chance to buy a square meter in downtown areas. In China's 12th FYP, during 2011 to 2015, the government set tight that 36 million people should have their apartment for the poor. Third, for education, the kids of rural migrant workers must go to urban schools. Forth, hospital treatment should also be guaranteed for the migrant workers."

Technology (Group B)

Modern technology has contributed a lot to economic growth and social development. However, the high-tech solution sometimes served the capital quite well. It is the time for rethinking the value and direction of modern technology. There are large potential for a better life with technology, and high risks should also be evaluated."

Governance and institutional issues (Group C)

On the way to sustainable development, governance plays a very important role. How to balance between justice and efficiency is a question should be answered by everybody. Transgenosis, nuclear, nano,……"

Consumption (Group D)

Consumption pattern is changing rapidly. There is a logic behind consumption, telling what is good and proper for the consumer. What is good for sustainable development and what is good for every consumer should be coordinated and decided by everybody. Luxury good, SUV, great mansion, swimming pool……