At present, some 50 metropolitan areas, each with a core city population of more than one million, anchor about half of China's population, create two thirds of the GDP, and are estimated to represent over 90% of the migration flows and China’s GDP growth.  These metropolitan areas are expected to gain close to an additional 300 million people by 2030, of which at least two thirds are expected to reside in suburban areas.  However, China’s existing institutional and administrative arrangements and policy frameworks may need to be refined to take full account of specific regional and metropolitan development challenges. 

The objective of the initial phase (2006) of the Metropolitan Management Analytical and Advisory Assistance Program was to take stock of key metropolitan management challenges in China. Based on common understanding, opportunities for enhancing current practices were identified.  Particular attention was paid to the subject of infrastructure service delivery at the metropolitan scale and the potential for further cross-jurisdictional coordination.

Phase II of this work (2007-2008) is expected to focus on broad fields of land use, urban transport, and infrastructure service delivery. Case studies will be conducted in 3-5 selected metropolitan areas in China.

Acknowledgements

Introduction
Metropolitan Management Challenges in China

Research Papers on Metropolitan Governance in China and International Comparison 
1. Metropolitan Regions: New Challenges for an Urbanizing China
2. Metropolitan Governance in China: Priorities for Action in the Context of Chinese Urban Dynamics and International Experience

Case Studies of Chinese Cities and Summaries of Roundtables 
1. Case study – Chongqing
2. Case study – Tianjin
3. Summary of City Roundtables in Chongqing and Tianjin
4. Summary of National Roundtable in Beijing

International Experience of Metropolitan Management
1. Seoul, Korea
2. Vancouver, Canada
3. Sao Paulo, Brazil