Accelerating old city housing renovation will improve lives

The central authorities' initiative to accelerate the renovation of old urban residential communities will help keep investment expansion steady and spur domestic demand while improving people's livelihoods, a senior official with the country's top housing authority said.

To spruce up such communities is "not only a livelihood project but also a very efficient measure to keep investment expansion steady", Huang Yan, vice-minister of Housing and Rural-Urban Development, said in a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office on Monday.

The initiative, as "one that serves multiple purposes", also is expected to inspire residents to upgrade their homes in light of improved environment, infrastructure and service facilities in their communities, she noted.

The decision to renovate these urban communities was made at an executive meeting of the State Council, which was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, on June 19.

The renovation work will give priority to upgrade roads and water, electricity, gas and optical fiber facilities. In communities where conditions permit, elevators will be installed and parking lots will be built, a statement released after the meeting said.

Huang said many of the communities were built more than two decades ago. While some facilities are not available in the communities, others are aging and shabby.

According to the ministry, local governments were asked to count the number of old residential communities in their urban areas in March. As of the end of May, they reported a total of 170,000 such communities, which boast almost 100 million residents.