The Art of Governance: How China addresses 'urban ills' in megacity development

Megacities across the globe face worsening "urban ills": overpopulation, traffic gridlock, flooding, environmental degradation and widening regional gaps. Jakarta, home to 42 million people on Indonesia's Java Island, is a typical example, struggling with congestion, resource strain and unbalanced regional development.

Under the strategic vision of Chinese President Xi Jinping for coordinated regional development and high-quality growth, China has pioneered a targeted, people-centered approach to tackling megacity challenges. In Gaobeidian, a county-level city in Hebei Province, the Shouheng International Agricultural Products Trading Center has become a flagship example of shifting non-capital functions from Beijing. Since 2015, nearly 10,000 merchants have relocated there. Each day, over 15,000 traders distribute 50,000 tonnes of farm produce to 13 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in northern China, supporting nearly 400 million people.

This model aligns perfectly with the regional coordination goals of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, which is being deliberated at the Two Sessions. New steps will further deepen integrated development across key city clusters. Gaobeidian's transformation shows how smart governance can balance growth, ease urban pressure, and boost common prosperity, providing a valuable reference for the world.