Four years ago today, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for Beijing's better integration with its neighbors, the Tianjin municipality, and Hebei Province.

The three areas are the three engines of growth in North China. A new economic zone known as Xiong'an was established in Hebei Province last April. The new area will play a significant role in helping phase out what are considered "non-core" functions from Beijing. It will also serve as a new model for development in densely populated areas, restructuring the layout of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Senior leaders of the Communist Party of China on Thursday stressed the need to ensure Xiong'an becomes a high-quality, modern socialist city.