Beijing's population is expected to top 19.5 million by 2015 and
climb to 21.4 million by 2020, according to a research report
released on weekend.
The figure is much more than the city's target of 18 million for
2020, according to the Strategic Report on Population of Beijing,
Tianjin and Hebei", released at the Beijing Population and
Development Forum held in Beijing.
Qu Zhenwu, a professor of Institute of Population Research
attached to Renmin University, attributed the rapid population
growth in Beijing to continuous influx of migrants.
"Although Beijing saw zero growth in natural birth rate for the
past five years, its population kept expanding as a result of a
mass of migrants," he said.
The expert suggested that the population of Beijing be kept
under 17 million while the total population in Beijing and its
surrounding Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province below 110
million.
Researchers called for closer cooperation in economic
development in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei to narrow gaps among the
three regions.
Beijing had 15.6 million permanent residents at the end of last
year, a rise of 1.4 percent, or 220,000 people, from 2005,
according to the city's family planning committee.
Growth in the capital's population over the past five years has
been rapid. The population has increased by over 10 million, making
it among the world's most populous cities.
(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2007)