Chongqing - On March 26, the 15th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Sixth Chongqing Municipal People's Congress reviewed and approved a resolution to promote the demonstration zone for the modern governance of megacities, which will take effect upon its official promulgation.

This initiative is a national effort to modernize megacities, with a focus on smart governance and legal frameworks. This step reflects China’s ongoing push to enhance urban governance and shape the future of megacities.

The railroad train runs through the beautiful mountain city at night. (Photo/Visual Chongqing)

The resolution underscores the core responsibilities of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress, including the exercise of legislative, supervisory, decision-making, and appointment powers in accordance with the law.

It outlines key legislative priorities, placing strong emphasis on building livable cities and advancing legislation related to urban infrastructure. These priorities include pipelines, park management, urban renewal, and land-use planning.

In support of smart city development, the resolution calls for accelerating legislation to support the creation of science and technology innovation centers and the operation of digital city management and governance platforms.

It also highlights the urgent need for laws related to artificial intelligence, data security, and cybersecurity, which would ensure a robust legal framework for emerging demonstration zones.

Additionally, the resolution encourages deeper research into local legislative theory and practice, the development of legislative think tanks, and the active engagement of experts and scholars to provide intellectual support. It suggests leveraging grassroots legislative contact points and other channels to gather broad public input, ensuring legislation reflects the needs and voices of the people.

The resolution further advocates for empowering the deputies to the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress to serve as vital links between the government and the public, encouraging them to set examples in supporting the development of these demonstration zones. These efforts aim to establish replicable urban governance models and contribute meaningful insights to the evolving “Chongqing model.”