On November 21st, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development held the National Urban Renewal Promotion Conference (hereinafter referred to as the "Promotion Conference") to study and deploy high-quality urban renewal, and promote the construction of innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and intelligent modern people's cities. Currently, urban renewal is placed in a more prominent position. In the opinion of the interviewed experts, urban renewal is an important measure to promote high-quality urban development and meet the needs of people for a better life. In the future, various key tasks will be accelerated in implementation. Urban renewal is a comprehensive and systematic strategic action to promote high-quality urban development. Since the beginning of this year, the urban renewal action has achieved remarkable results in improving institutional mechanisms and enhancing the living environment. The "Opinions of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council on Continuously Promoting Urban Renewal Action" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions") released in May this year clarified the main tasks and supporting measures of urban renewal action. The Central Urban Work Conference held in July proposed to "take promoting urban renewal as an important lever" when clarifying the overall requirements for urban work in the current and future periods. The achievements of this year's urban renewal campaign are evident. ”Yan Yuejin, Vice President of Shanghai E-house Real Estate Research Institute, told reporters that in terms of institutional mechanisms, policies have provided great support for urban renewal actions. Especially the Central Urban Work Conference has made promoting urban renewal an important lever for urban work, which not only enhances the status of urban renewal, but also guides various regions to start with urban renewal and do a good job in urban construction. The key tasks of urban renewal, such as conducting urban physical examination and evaluation, and promoting the renovation of old urban communities, have been effectively promoted throughout the country. According to data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, 297 prefecture level and above cities and 152 county-level cities across the country have comprehensively carried out urban physical examinations. This year, more than 3 million residential buildings, about 180000 residential areas, over 30000 communities, and more than 3800 blocks have been inspected, forming a list of problems and rectification suggestions, clarifying the "family background" of cities, and consolidating the foundation of work. In terms of renovating old residential areas, by 2025, the national plan is to start renovating 25000 old urban residential areas. In the first nine months of this year, 24300 old urban communities were newly renovated nationwide. The difficulties encountered in the current process of urban renewal mainly include a large funding gap, low resident participation, difficulties in policy implementation, and a shortage of professional talents. ”During an interview with reporters, Zhang Bo, the director of the 58 Anjuke Research Institute, analyzed that this requires further improvement of mechanisms, simplification of processes, and strengthening collaboration in order to complete urban renewal work with higher quality. The promotion meeting pointed out that we should conscientiously implement the "Opinions", adapt to local conditions, explore innovation, and focus on planning, funding, operation, and governance. Yan Yuejin said that in terms of financial support, the financial and financial support for urban renewal is continuously increasing, such as the investment within the central budget, ultra long term special treasury bond and other funds will be available more quickly. The central government continues to provide financial support for key model projects in urban renewal and the construction of urban renewal mechanisms. The Ministry of Finance released the "Announcement of the Results of the 2025 Central Financial Support for Urban Renewal Action" in June this year, announcing 20 proposed supported cities including Beijing, Tianjin, and Tangshan. In 2024, the central government has supported 15 cities including Shenyang, Shanghai, and Nanjing to implement urban renewal actions. The promotion meeting emphasized that the 35 central government supported cities should combine reality, innovate and break through, and form replicable and promotable experience models. We need to establish a comprehensive safety management system for the entire life cycle of houses, including physical examinations, management funds, and quality and safety insurance. Developing and implementing a special plan for urban renewal based on the results of urban physical examination and evaluation is an important support and guarantee in the process of promoting urban renewal. The promotion meeting pointed out that efforts should be made to formulate a special plan for urban renewal, establish an integrated promotion mechanism for urban physical examination and urban renewal, establish and improve the planning and implementation system of "special planning area planning project implementation plan", and do a good job in planning linkage. Currently, some cities are exploring the establishment and improvement of organizational mechanisms for urban physical examination work, as well as innovative methods for urban physical examination work. For example, Fuzhou City has established a differentiated special physical examination mechanism based on the types of special physical examinations. Persist in conducting annual community special physical examinations to thoroughly identify shortcomings in areas such as parking, charging, and childcare in the community, providing a basis for the implementation of complete community construction. To accelerate the promotion of urban physical examination work and establish an integrated promotion mechanism for urban physical examination and urban renewal, all regions must stand from the perspective of urban development entering the stock stage and establish a normalized thinking of urban physical examination. ”Yan Yuejin suggested that in the practical process, various regions should also introduce new technologies such as drones and digitization to improve the efficiency of urban renewal work and reduce the cost of urban renewal work. Zhang Bo stated that high-quality urban renewal should shift from speed to quality, from "large-scale demolition and construction" to "retention, renovation, and demolition" organic renewal, emphasizing historical and cultural protection and green low-carbon standards. (New Society)