CRI听力:Integration Won't Lead to Forced Relocation: Chinese Official

Chinese Officials say the integration of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei will not incur forced relocation of local residents.

Xu Lin, the head of Development with the Planning Department of the National Development and Reform Commission made the comment while briefing on the progress of China's urbanization.

Earlier, there was speculation that Beijing may move some of its population to neighboring Tianjin and Hebei as part of the integration plan.

Xu stresses that the government will not adopt administrative measures to force residents to relocate.

"The relocation of population should come after the relocation of economic resources, including the adjustment in urban functions.

It is not a process to drive residents out of the city by using administrative measures. People move to places where they can find jobs. If there are more job opportunities in Tianjin and Hebei, I believe more people will be happy to move to these places. "

Xu also says the country's 2020 urbanization project includes three tasks concerning 100 million people.

"In the three 'one hundred million' plans, the objects include to help about 100 million eligible rural residents to relocate in towns and cities. The second is to improve the living conditions of 100 million people living in shanty areas. And the other is to guide the urbanization of 100 million rural residents in the middle and western regions."

China now has about 269 million migrant workers.

The 2014-2020 urbanization plan was published in March this year.

It targets a slower urbanization rate and focuses on building a better quality of life.