Cities, as the hubs of economic, political, cultural, and social activities, occupy a pivotal position in the overall endeavors of the Party and the state.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core, has profoundly recognized the crucial role of cities in our country’s economic and social development and in enhancing people’s living standards. The Central Committee has continually strengthened the Party’s leadership over urban work, upheld the principle of “people’s cities for the people,” advanced people-centric new urbanization, and charted a path of urban development with distinctive Chinese characteristics.

The series of important statements on urban work delivered by Xi Jinping embody high aspirations, rich connotations, and profound insights. These statements have clarified the values and methodologies of urban development, profoundly revealed the laws of urban development under socialism with Chinese characteristics, and provided comprehensive answers to the fundamental questions of whom urban development serves and relies on, as well as the significant propositions of what kind of city to build and how to build it. These statements are of great significance for modernizing the system and capabilities for urban governance, improving the level of new urbanization, enhancing the quality of the urban environment and people’s lives, boosting urban competitiveness, and building harmonious, livable, vibrant, and distinctive modern cities. They also provide guidance for creating a new phase in the development of people’s cities, building a modern socialist country in all respects, and fully advancing national rejuvenation.

To assist officials and the public in studying, understanding, and mastering Xi Jinping’s important statements, we have compiled this current volume.

The content of this volume is drawn from over 120 key documents, including reports, speeches, congratulatory letters, instructions, etc., by Xi Jinping from November 2012 to December 2022. It is organized into seven topics, totaling 300 statements, some of which are being published here for the first time.

Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee

February 2023