Rebuilding shanty towns key in improving livelihood: Premier

BEIJING -- Premier Li Keqiang urged governments at all levels to attach great importance to renovation of shanty towns as a measure to improve people's lives.

Efforts must be stepped up to give more financial and taxation support for the rebuilding project and encourage private investment in the project of shanty town renovation, Premier Li said in an instruction on Oct 10 to a national teleconference on shanty town renovation.

Quality must be ensured and goals must be achieved as scheduled to improve urbanization and promote economic development, the Premier added.

The Premier said the renovation work concerns the realization of a better-off life for millions of residents who live in poor conditions, and is a key part of the people-oriented new type of urbanization.

Governments at all levels have made big progress in this regard but "the last part of an endeavor is the hardest to finish", the premier said.