Premier Li Keqiang said on Sunday that China will continue to urbanize but would avoid creating sprawling cities with shantytowns.

After the Beijing government decided to boost the development of the capital's southern sections in 2010, the area has turned into a bustling center of commerce and high-tech and educational institutes.

Premier Wen said megacities should be kept to an appropriate size and they should fully play their role in driving the development of surrounding areas.

China may borrow overseas experiences to finance its massive urbanization over the next decades through asset securitization and municipal bonds in addition to bank loans.

China is likely to roll out a layout this year to guide the country's urbanization drive to advance in an "orderly and healthy" way, a senior economic official said Wednesday.