SHANGHAI • The Shanghai government has unveiled its master plan for the eastern Chinese city's development over the next 18 years.

The plan approved by the State Council aims to build Shanghai into a global city and a modern cosmopolis by 2035, with a greater role in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Shanghai is slated to become the core city of the Yangtze River Delta city cluster, a centre of global economy, finance, trade, shipping and technological innovation.

To achieve the goal, the city should strike a balance between saving enough agricultural land and optimising urban space, creating a better living environment, tightly controlling its population and allowing all ages to lead healthy lifestyles, according to the master plan.

The key is deepening reform and opening up, as well as undertaking a bigger role to serve the BRI and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Meanwhile, Shanghai should enhance coordination with surrounding cities to build a world-class city group, according to the State Council's website.

"The master plan project was officially launched in May 2014, and paves the way for the city to develop in the years leading up to 2035 by considering the city's existing conditions, the central government's requirements and Shanghai people's needs," vice-mayor Shi Guanghui said.

The plan envisions the city capping its population of permanent residents at 25 million by 2035, while overall construction will be limited to 3,200 sq km. Certain spaces can be set aside for further adjustment, said director Xu Yisong of the Shanghai Bureau of Planning and Land Resources.

Priority will be given to environmental protection, with more efforts to weed out outdated production capacity, reduce emissions, enhance protection of water and land resources, and build Shanghai into a sustainable eco-city.

"Shanghai is at a turning point in its economic growth and development, and this requires innovation to be the future growth engine," said Mr Wang Sizheng, an official with the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission.

CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK