The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday to review the guidelines on a raft of policies and measures supporting the high-standard and high-quality construction of the Xiongan New Area in north China's Hebei Province.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

The meeting pointed out that the focus of the work involving Xiongan has shifted to high-quality construction and high-level management. Therefore, it is of great significance to implement a package of supporting policies that coordinate and advance the relocation of nonessential functions of Beijing as the capital to the new area. The meeting also emphasized the importance of the massive construction projects in Xiongan.

Participants of the meeting stated that targeted measures should be taken based on the actual needs of the new area, with a particular emphasis on addressing the interests and concerns of those being relocated.

The meeting also stressed the high-quality development of the region, saying it needs to develop in an intensive, green and eco-friendly manner, and to carry out reforms to optimize the business environment, strengthen technological innovation and develop high-end industries.

Besides, officials also need to enhance the governance structure and public service system, and explore the operation and management system for the future city, according to the meeting. It requires forging a leadership that is highly capable, hard-working, integrated and honest to lead the construction and operation of the new area.

The central government and the Hebei provincial government need to support each other and work together to implement relative policies, and continuously make new progress in the construction and development of the new area, the meeting emphasized.

On June 25, China's State Council officially approved the establishment of a comprehensive bonded zone in the Xiongan New Area, China Media Group reported on Friday. The zone is expected to develop an industrial system centered around design, research and development, and high-tech industries. It will focus on high-end manufacturing, sales services, and be supported by modern logistics.

China announced its plans to establish the Xiongan New Area, located approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing, on April 1, 2017, with the aim of relieving Beijing of non-essential functions and advancing the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Xiongan is expected to become another new area of "national significance" following the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Shanghai Pudong New Area, according to authorities.

In implementing this plan, China's centrally-administered state-owned enterprises have set up more than 140 subsidiaries and branches in the area. Furthermore, in order to provide quality public services, universities, hospitals, and schools based in Beijing are either building or planning to build branches in Xiongan. They are also establishing partnerships with their counterparts in Xiongan.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: An aerial photo of the Xiongan New Area, north China's Hebei Province, October 31, 2022. / CFP)