Basic education is not only an essential means for eliminating stratification and differences in society but also one of the main reasons for the enlargement of the gap between the rich and the poor. Because it faces pressure in the context of globalization, a balanced development of basic education would be a good way to relieve this pressure. This paper summarizes the international experience of balanced development of basic education in five aspects: policies and laws, educational funds, teacher resources, disadvantaged groups and conditions for running a school. On the basis of these, the authors put forward relevant suggestions concerning the balanced development of basic education in China.