国内英语新闻:Chinese vice premier calls for efforts to step up urbanization

SHANGHAI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang called for more efforts to accelerate China's urbanization Thursday, as part of the government's efforts to promote economic restructuring and expand domestic demand during this process.

Li made the remarks at a training course in Shanghai, saying China's urbanization, which still has much room for expansion, is China's largest source of domestic demand as well as the largest potential driver for development.

Further, urbanization would bolster domestic demand, improve people's livelihoods and solve rural problems, Li said.

Li noted that China would coordinate development among cities and towns, and step up development of cities in China's central and western regions, while prioritizing development in eastern cities.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (6th L, front) poses for a group photo with the participants of a training course on urbanization, in Shanghai, east China, June 24, 2010.

Li demanded more efforts to solve issues for rural workers including settlement, education for children, housing and social security during the urbanization process.

To steadily push forward urbanization in China is an urgent job at present and also a long-term task, Li added.

The government said in March that China's rapid urbanization would continue for 15 to 20 years and China would become an urban society in five to six years, with the urbanization rate reaching or exceeding 50 percent.