Beijing Plans to Cap Population at 23 Million by 2020

(Yicai Global) March 29 — Beijing, which had nearly 20.7 million permanent residents in 2012 per municipal government figures, aims to cap its population at 23 million by 2020, a draft document published yesterday by the city’s urban planning commission says.

Beijing rail transit will cover a total of 1,000 kilometers by 2020, compared with 574 kilometers now, the commission said.

The Chinese capital will control its average PM 2.5 reading at around 56 micrograms per cubic meter by 2020 and will reduce it to 35 micrograms per cubic meter by 2030, meeting the national standards, the document said.

Forest cover will make up more than 45 percent of the city, and green travel will account for 80 percent of total trips by 2030, the plan said.

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