Driving Reform to Build a Livable, Resilient, and Smart City

 

—Changchun Advances Urban Renewal through Multi-Faceted Coordination

 

Urban construction plays a key role in modernization and is closely tied to people's lives. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee explicitly called for deepening reforms in urban construction, operation, and governance systems, as well as accelerating the transformation of urban development models. In alignment with central directives and public demands, the Seventh Plenary Session of the 14th CPC Changchun Municipal Committee deeply analyzed the laws of urban development and outlined tasks for deepening reforms in urban construction. In response, Changchun Municipal Construction Committee has been actively promoting municipal infrastructure development and enhancing refined urban management, aiming to build a livable, resilient, and smart city, thereby significantly improving the people's sense of happiness and gain.

 

Revamping the Management Structure to

 

Unleash Road Maintenance Potential

 

To align with the development trend of the times and meet the intrinsic needs of high-quality urban growth, Changchun has meticulously planned and strategically deployed initiatives. Changchun Municipal Construction Committee, in collaboration with the Bureaus of Planning and Natural Resources, Urban Management, and Housing Management, has introduced the Implementation Plan for Reform and Strengthened Management in Urban Construction. This plan serves as a "golden key" to unlocking new momentum for urban development and addressing challenges in urban construction and management.

 

In the investment and financing of major projects and overall management of urban construction projects, under the principle of matching urban construction authority with road grades, and following an innovative approach of "standardized maintenance with a combination of centralization and decentralization", Changchun Municipal Construction Committee has optimized the allocation of road maintenance and management authority. It has taken over maintenance and management authority for arterial roads such as Dongnanhu Road, 3rd Ring Road, and Shiji Street, ensuring unified maintenance across various districts. Meanwhile, the maintenance and management authority for secondary trunk roads, such as those in South New City, Beian Road, and Anda Street, have been delegated. Through a precise adjustment of centralized and decentralized management, the division of responsibilities, standards, and details in road maintenance between municipal and district authorities has been further clarified, elevating the level of refined management.

 

Advancing Plant-Network Integration to

　

Reshape the Drainage Management Pattern

 

At Changchun Dongnan Sewage Treatment Plant, there is no noticeable odor, and the spacious plant houses four modern sewage treatment workshops. Put into use in September 2024, this plant is managed by Changchun Construction Investment. According to Hou Hui, Deputy General Manager of the company, the municipal government has granted the Changchun Construction Investment Group a 30-year concession for sewage treatment operations. To date, the group has integrated assets from 17 sewage treatment plants, 23 storage ponds, 20 pumping stations, and 2,400-kilometer pipeline networks, achieving phased results in the "plant-network integration" reform.

 

Optimizing and upgrading the drainage system is a crucial aspect of urban construction. Currently, issues such as overlapping construction, decentralized management, and lack of systematic integration persist in drainage infrastructure. Changchun Municipal Construction Committee has set "plant-network integration" as its reform objective. To achieve this, it strives to consolidate resources, assets, and operational rights of "plants, stations, networks, rivers, ponds, and sludge" across urban districts and development zones, so as to establish a new pattern of integrated upstream and downstream management across regions. Meanwhile, a performance evaluation system for sewage treatment has been implemented to encourage operational enterprises to develop market-oriented and professionalized services, forming an efficient operation model of "enterprise investment and government payment". Furthermore, a new drainage project construction model has been introduced, featuring a collaborative mechanism between "industry departments and project companies". Efforts have been made to secure national, provincial, and municipal policy funding to accelerate project implementation.

 

An Overall Plan for Urban Construction to

 

Highlight Cohesion and Coordination

 

Beyond road maintenance and drainage system reforms, Changchun Municipal Construction Committee has also launched groundbreaking initiatives in areas such as the division of financial and administrative authority in urban construction, the management of water, gas, and heat industries, and the preservation of historical and cultural districts. For instance, in historical and cultural district preservation, efforts have been focused on improving management mechanisms and establishing long-term frameworks for protection, revitalization, and utilization. This ensures that valuable historical and cultural resources are effectively preserved, inherited, and appropriately utilized, maintaining the continuity and prominence of the city's historical fabric.

 

Moreover, Changchun Municipal Construction Committee oversees the construction plans and schemes for major urban construction projects, such as expressways, arterial and secondary roads, and drainage trunk lines across districts and development zones. All districts and development zones are required to submit preliminary proposals for major projects to the Committee, which will coordinate with the Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, the Bureau of Forestry and Landscaping, and other relevant departments for professional planning, unified evaluation, and rigorous review. In the stages of construction, land acquisition, and traffic organization, unified scheduling and guidance are implemented to ensure that major projects align with the city's overall plan in terms of landscapes, construction standards, functional use, etc., thereby showcasing the cohesion and coordination of urban construction.

　

As these reform and management measures take full effect, urban construction and governance will embrace a new development pattern. Responsibilities between municipal and district authorities will become clearer, major projects will progress efficiently and smoothly, refined urban management will reach new heights, and the supply of water, gas, and heat will remain stable and sufficient. Ultimately, the city's livability, resilience, and intelligence will see a significant improvement, allowing the people to experience a strong sense of happiness and gain from the urban transformation.