小城镇一直是中国改革和发展中的大问题。1997年以来, 中国小城镇户籍制度改革迈出了较大步伐, 对农村人口城镇化起到了积极的推动作用。然而, 农民对进镇落户的热情并不像人们所预期的那样高。总体看, 小城镇户口是随着其吸引力的逐渐减弱而放宽的。当今中国的农村人口城镇化, 已经进入了必须通过相关制度综合配套改革才能实现新一轮再推进的发展新阶段。新形势下, 很有必要以科学发展观重思小城镇大问题, 充分发挥小城镇在统筹城乡发展中的重要作用。

The development of small cities and towns has always been a big issue in China's reforms. Since 1997 the reform on the household registration system of China's small cities and towns has made progress at a good pace, which plays a positive role in the urbanization of rural population. However, farmers do not have great enthusiasms for applying for their residence permit in towns as it is expected. On the whole, the restrictions on residence registration in towns are relaxed with its appeal gradually becoming weak. The current urbanization of Chinese rural population has entered into a new developmental stage in which relevant systems that come in a complete package must be reformed. In such a new situation it is necessary for us to reconsider the big issue of small cities and towns in the perspective of scientific development, thus bringing them into full play in our overall planning of urban and rural developments.