"China is well aware that its rapid urbanization and rapid economic growth has come at a cost, even as that growth has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty," Kim told a news conference. "China now needs to find new ways to make cities more energy efficient, promote clean energy, and reduce trac congestion and air pollution," he said. "If China breathes easier, the world will breathe easier, too."

As part of eorts to make consumers the economy's main driver, China's leaders aim to have 60 percent of its almost 1.4 billion population be urban residents by 2020.

Kim said the bank hopes China can build denser cities where people live closer to their work, with better transportation systems. e World Bank is working with the Development Research Centre to shape a "strategic view" on how China should proceed with urbanization, he said, adding that their report could be made public by December.

Premier Li Keqiang recently agged the need for "humanity-centered" urbanization and he solicited views from Chinese experts on how to improve the process.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) delayed release of an urbanization plan from the rst half of the year. A top ocial has said it will come out in the second half.

The World Bank chief said another important issue for China to tackle is protecting farmers' rights to land, and seeing that they "share the benefits of land development in a more equitable way." Farmers in China do not own their elds directly. Instead, most rural land is owned collectively by a village, and farmers get decades-long leases.

In theory, the villagers can collectively decide to apply to sell o or develop land. In practice, however, local governments usually decide land sales and get the bulk of the revenue.

Reuters contributed to this article.

Contact the writer at michaelbarris@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 09/19/2013 page1)