To promote the deep integration of the construction industry with high-quality urban development and to refine a development mechanism characterized by “government coordination, market-driven operations, and multi‑stakeholder participation,” Sichuan Province recently issued the “Action Plan to Support Construction Enterprises in Cultivating and Developing ‘Urban Partners,’” guiding construction firms to transition their organizational models toward the “urban partner” framework. This initiative aims to establish a new, integrated urban development and operation ecosystem encompassing planning, regulation, investment, construction, operation, and governance, thereby enhancing the quality of urban development and the effectiveness of urban governance.

According to the plan, “Urban Partners” refer to independent enterprises or consortia that possess comprehensive capabilities in planning, design, investment, construction, operation, and governance. They establish an organizational model with local governments—through equity partnerships, long-term agreements, and other arrangements—that features shared risks and shared benefits. At the core of this approach is a stronger emphasis on planning and operations, enabling leading construction firms to transition from being mere project contractors to co‑creators of urban development.

In terms of development goals, by 2027, the aim is to cultivate 5 to 8 leading construction enterprises capable of implementing the “Urban Partner” model, and to establish a portfolio of replicable, scalable demonstration projects under the “Value Co‑creation” framework. By 2030, the target is to nurture 15 to 20 such backbone construction firms, develop five regionally renowned flagship projects, and build a nationally leading “Urban Partner” industrial ecosystem, fostering an industry‑development landscape characterized by government–enterprise collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships.

To foster market entities and establish platforms for demonstration projects, the plan proposes launching a “City Partner” program to cultivate a cohort of leading enterprises with expertise in area‑level planning, the revitalization of existing assets, and industrial park operations. Comprehensive enterprises possessing core competencies will be included in the provincial “City Partner” enterprise roster for prioritized development and support. A database of “City Partner” demonstration projects will also be established, focusing on urban renewal, district‑level development, Transit‑Oriented Development (TOD), industrial park development, and the reactivation of underutilized assets. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate full‑chain collaboration and deliver significant social benefits, with dynamic monitoring and management implemented throughout their lifecycle.

In terms of enhancing enterprises’ overall capabilities, the plan calls for fully leveraging the resource‑integration strengths of leading firms to link upstream and downstream resources across strategy, planning, investment, construction, operations, and governance, thereby achieving coordinated management at every stage and building end‑to‑end, integrated service capabilities across the entire industrial chain. Drawing on provincial pilot policies for smart and green construction, the plan promotes the deep, cross‑disciplinary integration of new technologies and products—such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), City Information Modeling (CIM), the Internet of Things, construction robots, and intelligent construction equipment—throughout the full project lifecycle. Enterprises are encouraged to strengthen their expertise in urban planning, urban health assessments, industrial development, and project consulting through mergers, acquisitions, and other means. The plan also explores a “pre‑emptive industry‑attraction” model, embedding self‑sustaining financial‑balance schemes during the conceptual and planning phases, and making industrial investment attraction and operational performance prerequisites for project partnerships, thus fostering a virtuous cycle of “attracting industries first, then developing infrastructure, with operations shaping the project design.” Furthermore, an investor‑enterprise matchmaking mechanism known as the “Urban Partner” initiative will be actively established, with regular bank‑enterprise liaison events to break down information barriers among businesses, projects, and financial institutions. Enterprises are supported in continuously increasing R&D investment, collaborating with universities and research institutes to set up key laboratories, engineering technology research centers, and other innovation platforms. Finally, the plan accelerates the research, development, and large‑scale deployment of green construction technologies, encouraging pilot demonstrations of zero‑carbon buildings and low‑carbon communities within “Urban Partner” projects.

The plan focuses on key areas such as urban renewal and district‑level development, precisely mobilizing industrial resources. In the realm of urban renewal, it encourages enterprises to participate in the upgrading of old residential communities, historic neighborhoods, urban villages, and underperforming industrial zones. Within the existing framework of special funds for urban renewal, local authorities are supported in providing assistance for both preliminary planning and long‑term operational sustainability, while guiding market players to introduce new business models that revitalize existing assets in these districts. For district‑level development, within the bounds of compliant land‑use planning, financial balance is achieved through market‑driven revenues generated from the transfer of commercially zoned land and the revitalization of existing assets. In accordance with regulations, a coordinated implementation approach is adopted, pairing commercial projects with public‑interest initiatives in a manner that ensures their complementary and synergistic development. The allocation of revenues between government and enterprises is strictly governed by market‑based contractual agreements; no fiscal subsidies or other forms of implicit guarantees may be used to cover project losses.

To enhance service capacity, the plan proposes establishing a provincial-level “City Partner” project approval green channel, implementing an “immediate submission and review, rapid completion” process for demonstration‑zone projects. It also calls for the establishment of a collaborative oversight mechanism for “City Partners,” clearly defining the rights and responsibilities of both government and enterprises, standardizing cooperative practices, mitigating partnership risks, and providing timely guidance to correct deviations. Furthermore, a government‑enterprise coordination service mechanism will be put in place, with regular forums and project‑matching sessions held to gather enterprises’ transformation needs and challenges, and to coordinate solutions related to project implementation and resource allocation.

To ensure the effective implementation of the plan, Sichuan Province will establish a Leading Group for the Development of “Urban Partners,” which will coordinate and advance policy formulation, major project decisions, and other related tasks. At the same time, a mechanism will be put in place to publish an inventory of project opportunities for “Urban Partners,” regularly identifying urban renewal, district‑level development, TOD projects, and other initiatives that can be commercially operated. In addition, “Urban Partner” enterprises will be encouraged to recruit and cultivate specialized talent across the entire industrial chain, and to collaborate with higher education institutions to implement order‑based talent‑training programs. (Source: China Construction News)