Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences made a trip to Laiwu, Shandong Province to research on the city's urban-rural integration as part of a 6–day inspection tour from March 28 to April 2.

After studying local businesses, observing the surrounding countryside and conducting in-depth interviews, they concluded major indicators such as per capita GNP, urban and rural household income and industry composition showed urban-rural integration in the city of 1.25 million was picking up pace.

Laiwu is a relatively heavily urbanized industrial city. Its main industry is steel. Large companies here have supported strong growth and urban-rural integration.

Infrastructure construction and the city's social security system in rural and urban areas will expand as the city and surrounding countryside become further enmeshed, which will help to solve some of the problems facing farmers in the region.

The researchers suggested Laiwu intensify reforms, promote the coordination of urban-rural integration and learn from national coordination of urban and rural development.