# Singapore and China Jointly Launch Inaugural Publication on Urban Governance

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2016-03-19T07:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/singapore-and-china-jointly-launch-inaugural-publication-on-urban-governance
- **Topics:** New Launches, Government & Policy, Regional Markets

## Featured rationale

Shared lessons on integrated planning, housing and infrastructure finance may inform future urban policies and potentially improve development quality and liveability in both countries.

## AI summary

Singapore and China jointly launched their first urban-governance publication covering urbanisation, planning and governance, public housing, and infrastructure financing.

## Original article

Ministry of National Development (MND), Singapore, and the Development Research Center of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (DRC) jointly launched an inaugural publication on urban governance today. The Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), a division of the MND, and the DRC’s Department of Macroeconomic Research represented the two countries in driving this collaboration. The publication is the first major research outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between MND and DRC, witnessed by President Tony Tan and President Xi Jinping during the former’s state visit to the People’s Republic of China in July 2015. The MOU aims to facilitate knowledge-sharing between China and Singapore in the areas of urban governance, liveability, sustainability and policy issues of concern to both governments, as well as draw lessons from the development experience of both countries through visiting fellowships, joint research and publications. 

This inaugural publication is the first significant outcome of the collaboration between MND and DRC, as part of the MOU. Based on the development experiences and reforms of Singapore and the People’s Republic of China, and their respective journeys in creating liveable and sustainable cities, it aims to serve as a useful resource for policy makers, experts and researchers involved in urban policy formulation, as well as those with a keen interest in sustainable and liveable urbanisation. This publication focuses on four important aspects of urban development, namely: Urbanisation Overview, Urban Planning and Governance, Public Housing and Infrastructure Financing. The publication concludes with a synthesis of the key insights and lessons drawn from the two countries’ development experience. 

Pioneers and eminent experts from Singapore and the People’s Republic of China actively contributed to the publication. They were contributed by pioneers who had been closely involved in Singapore’s development journey such as Executive Director of CLC Mr Khoo Teng Chye, Chairman of CLC’s Advisory Board Dr Liu Thai Ker, Chairman of Urban Redevelopment Authority Mr Peter Ho, former Deputy Chief Executive for the Housing and Development Board Mr Chionh Chye Khye, and former Deputy Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Trade and Industry Ms Low Sin Leng. Eminent experts and researchers from DRC including Vice Minister Wang Yiming, former Vice Minister of DRC Liu Shijing, Director-General Hou Yongzhi, Deputy Director-General Dr Wei Jianing, Deputy Director-General Meng Chun and Research Fellow Ren Xingzhou also actively contributed to the publication. 

In sharing his Singapore experience in the Urban Planning and Governance Chapter, Chairman of CLC’s Advisory Board Dr Liu said: “Singapore has become the way it is because the city tackles core problems and not symptoms; its political leaders set high visions with pragmatic solutions, its professionals hone solid skills to tackle real issues”. Dr Liu also emphasised that “a good urban plan is born out of a Humanist Heart, Scientist’s Head and Artist’s Eye”. To this, CLC’s Executive Director Mr Khoo said that Singapore’s development success was attributed to its focus on three key outcomes: a competitive economy, sustainable environment and high quality of life, based on two underlying systems of integrated master planning and dynamic governance. 

In sharing China’s urbanisation experience, former Vice Minister of DRC Wang Shijing said: “The only engine that enables China to realise ‘China’s Dream’ and move from a middle-income country to a high-income country is to promote high-quality of urbanisation”. China’s urbanisation should follow the general principles of urbanisation, and at the same time it also needs to take into account China’s unique characteristics.” On infrastructure financing, Vice Minister of DRC Wang Yiming said: “PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) is a long-term cooperation model between the government and the private sector, which allows the government and the private sector to share benefits and risks. There is established experience of applying PPP model for infrastructure financing. In China, boosting the adoption of PPP will be conducive to resolving the bottlenecks in investment and management of urban infrastructure, preventing risks and helping promote sustainable urbanisation. 

Dr Liu, Mr Khoo and Vice Minister Wang Yiming jointly launched the Chinese version of the joint publication today at the China Development Forum, China’s highest national level event in Beijing. The English version of the publication will be co-launched by CLC and DRC leaders at the World Cities Summit in Singapore, in July 2016. The World Cities Summit is an international event co-organised by CLC and Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore which attracts government leaders, mayors and senior representatives from businesses, the academia, and international organisations globally.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 新加坡与中国联合推出城市治理首部出版物

新加坡国家发展部（MND）与中华人民共和国国务院发展研究中心（DRC）今日联合推出一部城市治理主题的首部出版物。国家发展部下属宜居城市中心（CLC）与国务院发展研究中心宏观部代表两国推动此项合作。该出版物是国家发展部与国务院发展研究中心签署的谅解备忘录（MOU）的首个重大研究成果；该备忘录于2015年7月时任总统陈庆炎对中华人民共和国进行国事访问期间，在习近平主席见证下签署。备忘录旨在促进中国与新加坡在城市治理、宜居性、可持续性，以及两国政府共同关切的政策议题上的知识共享，并通过访问学者、联合研究与出版，汲取两国发展经验中的启示。

这部首部出版物是国家发展部与国务院发展研究中心合作的第一项重要成果，属谅解备忘录的一部分。基于新加坡与中华人民共和国的发展经验与改革，以及两国各自打造宜居、可持续城市的历程，它旨在成为参与城市政策制定的决策者、专家与研究者，以及对可持续、宜居城市化有浓厚兴趣者的有用参考。该出版物聚焦城市发展的四个重要方面，即：城市化概览、城市规划与治理、公共住房，以及基础设施融资。出版物最后综合了从两国发展经验中提炼的关键见解与启示。

来自新加坡与中华人民共和国的先驱与权威专家积极参与了该出版物的撰写。新加坡方面贡献者包括长期深度参与新加坡发展历程的先驱，如宜居城市中心执行董事邱鼎财先生、宜居城市中心咨询委员会主席刘太格博士、市区重建局主席何学渊先生、建屋发展局前副总裁蒋才杰先生，以及财政部与贸工部前副常任秘书刘信宁女士。国务院发展研究中心的权威专家与研究者，包括副主任王一鸣、国务院发展研究中心原副主任刘世锦、司长侯永志、副司长魏加宁博士、副司长孟春以及研究员任兴洲，亦积极参与该出版物。

在分享其于“城市规划与治理”章节中的新加坡经验时，宜居城市中心咨询委员会主席刘博士说：“新加坡之所以成为今日模样，是因为这座城市处理核心问题而非表象；政治领袖设定高远愿景并以务实方案落实，专业人士锤炼扎实技能以应对真实议题。”刘博士还强调，“好的城市规划诞生于人文之心、科学家之脑与艺术家之眼”。对此，宜居城市中心执行董事邱先生表示，新加坡的发展成功归功于其聚焦三大关键成果：有竞争力的经济、可持续的环境与高质量的生活，并建立在综合总体规划与动态治理这两大底层体系之上。

在分享中国的城市化经验时，国务院发展研究中心原副主任王世锦表示：“使中国实现‘中国梦’、从中等收入国家迈向高收入国家的唯一引擎，是推动高质量的城市化。中国的城市化应遵循城市化的一般规律，同时也需要考虑中国的独特国情。”关于基础设施融资，国务院发展研究中心副主任王一鸣表示：“PPP（政府与社会资本合作）是政府与私营部门之间的长期合作模式，使双方能够共享收益、共担风险。将PPP模式应用于基础设施融资已有成熟经验。在中国，推动采用PPP将有助于化解城市基础设施投资与管理中的瓶颈，防范风险，并助力推进可持续城市化。

刘博士、邱先生与王一鸣副主任今日在北京中国发展高层论坛——中国最高规格的国家级活动上，联合推出该联合出版物的中文版。该出版物英文版将于2016年7月由宜居城市中心与国务院发展研究中心领导在新加坡世界城市峰会上联合发布。世界城市峰会是由宜居城市中心与新加坡市区重建局合办的国际活动，吸引来自全球的政府领导人、市长，以及企业、学术界和国际组织的高级代表。