China has enjoyed unprecedentedly high economic growth for three decades, but the country's vast size and diverse geography have left some rural areas off the development wagon. At the 19th CPC National Congress, achieving balanced growth and reducing rural urban differences are policymakers' next major task. 

China has maintained its position as the world’s second largest economy and contributed more than 30 percent of global economic growth, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping said in his work report. 

However, the growth has been unbalanced and has led to some serious issues which Chinese policy makers are now trying to rectify. Correcting China’s unbalanced growth and reducing wealth disparity between rural and urban areas are important topics at the 19th CPC National Congress. 

"General Secretary Xi is pushing for Beijing-Tianjin-Heibei development, which brought such an outstanding opportunity for a small city like Dingzhou," said Wang Dongqun, CPC delegate and Party secretary of Dingzhou, Hebei Province. "We are determined to execute the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, and we will work very hard to greatly improve the quality of life for the people in Dingzhou." 

Policy makers have already been putting in measures to promote rural development. The development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Corridor is a major national strategy. The National Development and Reform Commission has outlined new targets in the building of the Xiong'an New Area and the Beijing subsidiary administrative center located in Tongzhou District. 

"The subsidiary administrative center is mainly located in the Tongzhou District. Tongzhou's overall planning for the project is in full swing. To gain cohesion with Beijing’s future development is a main focus. Meanwhile, sound development with some counties in Hebei Province and Beijing's new airport will help all of the construction in the suburban areas of Beijing go smoothly and efficiently," said He Lifeng, Director of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). 

And local authorities are taking the first steps in making the Xiong’an project a reality, according to Chen Gang, director of the Administrative Committee of Xiong’an New Area. 

"We can't afford to give out high compensations, but everyone is enthusiastic about Xiong’an. Ultimately we chose 12 teams and spent two months to come up with a grand city plan, and we have achieved remarkable results," Chen noted.

He Liqun,  CPC delegate and director of the NDRC, told CGTN that the ground work for the high-speed train connecting Xiong’an and Beijing has been laid out already. 

"We are laying out the ground work for the high-speed train connecting Xiong’an to Beijing, Xiong’an to the new Beijing airport in the south, and Xiong’an to Bazhou in Hebei Province. We are striving to put our resources together and start construction as soon as possible. And Tongzhou is ready to take on major responsibilities for Beijing's long term development," He told CGTN.

Many delegates agreed that unbalanced growth is threatening the sustainability of current high economic growth in the country. With policies specifically targeting regional economies, we can expect to see a more evenly developed China going forward.