On June 19th, Premier Li Keqiang presided over an executive meeting of the State Council, deploying the promotion of the renovation of old urban communities and improving living conditions in response to public expectations; Determine measures to advance the completion of rural power grid renovation and upgrading tasks, and assist in rural revitalization; Request to consolidate and improve the level of rural drinking water safety, support poverty alleviation, and ensure basic livelihood. The meeting pointed out that in accordance with the deployment of the Central Economic Work Conference and the Government Work Report, we should actively carry out the "Six Stabilities" work and stabilize investment as an important aspect. We need to find the right entry point, seize major projects that can meet the expectations of the people, promote consumption by expanding domestic demand, and avoid duplicate construction, expand effective investment, and strive to achieve multiple benefits with one move, such as stable growth, structural adjustment, and benefiting people's livelihoods.


The meeting believes that accelerating the renovation of old urban communities is a major livelihood and development project with strong public desire. According to preliminary investigations in various regions, the old urban communities that need to be renovated across the country currently involve hundreds of millions of residents, with a large quantity and wide coverage, varying situations, and heavy tasks. The meeting confirmed that first, we must quickly clarify the standards and scope of renovation, and carry out pilot exploration this year to accumulate experience for further comprehensive promotion. Secondly, we need to strengthen government guidance, consolidate local responsibilities, strengthen overall planning and coordination, give full play to the role of community entities, respect the wishes of residents, and mobilize public participation. Key renovation and construction of supporting facilities such as water, electricity, roads, and optical fibers in residential areas. If conditions permit, elevators can be installed and parking facilities can be built. Promote household renovation and drive consumption. Thirdly, we need to innovate investment and financing mechanisms. This year, central subsidy funds will be allocated for the renovation of old urban communities. Encourage financial institutions and local governments to actively explore and increase financial support for the renovation of old residential areas in a sustainable manner. Using market-oriented methods to attract social forces to participate. On the basis of community renovation, we should guide the development of community elderly care, childcare, medical care, meal assistance, cleaning and other services. Promote the establishment of a long-term management mechanism for community follow-up.


The meeting pointed out that since the implementation of the new round of rural power grid renovation and upgrading project in 2016, tasks such as connecting rural power wells and poverty-stricken villages with power have been completed, improving rural production and living conditions, and driving rural consumption. The next step is for all regions and power grid enterprises to increase their work efforts to ensure that this year, on a provincial basis, all the renovation and upgrading tasks specified in the 13th Five Year Plan are completed one year ahead of schedule. Further shorten the time for enterprises to obtain electricity and optimize the business environment. Secondly, this year all relevant central budget investments will be used for the renovation and upgrading of power grids in poverty-stricken areas, and the proportion of central capital will be increased. We will focus on promoting the transformation and construction of rural power grids such as "three districts and three prefectures" and border villages, ensuring completion in the first half of next year. The third is to establish a monitoring and evaluation system for rural power supply, including the electrification of machine wells in the daily service scope of power grid enterprises, and improve the level of rural power services.


The meeting pointed out that through the implementation of rural water supply projects, rural residents have achieved the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for drinking water ahead of schedule, with the rural centralized water supply rate and the popularization rate of tap water reaching over 80%. The meeting called for an increase in engineering construction efforts to comprehensively solve the problems of substandard water supply and excessive fluoride in drinking water for 60 million rural residents by next year. Secondly, it is necessary to establish a reasonable mechanism for water price formation and water fee collection, and attract social forces to participate in the construction and operation of water supply facilities through cooperation between the government and social capital. The central and local finance will provide subsidies for the maintenance and upkeep of drinking water safety projects in poverty-stricken areas in the central and western regions. We need to strengthen the protection of centralized drinking water sources, study new standards to improve the safety level of rural drinking water, and initiate the formulation of the next step of rural water supply planning.


The meeting also discussed other matters.