Interpretation by the Director of the National Development and Reform Commission: Planning and construction of the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council recently issued a notice to establish the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. This is a significant historical strategic choice made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. What is the background and significance of establishing the Xiong'an New Area? Why was the site chosen here? How will it be planned and constructed in the next steps? A reporter from Xinhua News Agency interviewed He Lifeng, the head of the National Development and Reform Commission.

A major decision-making deployment with far-reaching historical significance.

Question: Can you introduce the background and significance of establishing the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei?

Answer: The establishment of the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei is a major decision made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to promote coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and to orderly relieve non-capital functions from Beijing. The Xiong'an New Area is another area of national significance following the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and Shanghai Pudong New Area, representing a millennium plan and a national priority.

Beijing's population has reached over 21 million, approaching the population control target of 23 million set for 2020, leading to urban issues such as traffic congestion, soaring housing prices, and overburdened resources. The deeper reason is that it has taken on too many non-capital functions. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that relieving non-capital functions from Beijing is a key link and top priority in promoting coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Relevant departments have successively introduced 12 special plans for coordinated development in this region, accelerating breakthroughs in transportation, ecology, and industry, strengthening innovation-driven development and institutional reform, and promoting co-construction and sharing of basic public services. Planning and constructing the Xiong'an New Area is a very important part of relieving non-capital functions from Beijing.

Standing at a new historical starting point, planning and constructing the Xiong'an New Area has significant practical and far-reaching historical significance.

First, it focuses on creating a concentrated bearing area for relieving non-capital functions from Beijing, which can effectively alleviate urban issues in Beijing and form a new dual-wing structure with Beijing's urban sub-center.

Second, it is conducive to accelerating the filling of regional development gaps, improving the quality and level of economic and social development in Hebei, cultivating new regional growth poles, and can also leverage the opportunity of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to promote construction in Zhangbei area, forming new dual wings for Hebei.

Third, it is beneficial for adjusting and optimizing the urban layout and spatial structure of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, expanding new spaces for regional development, exploring new models for optimizing development in densely populated economic areas, creating a new engine for national innovation-driven development, and accelerating the construction of a world-class city cluster in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.

The site selection for Xiong'an New Area was determined after repeated comparisons and thorough scientific demonstrations. Question: How was the site for Xiong'an New Area determined? What factors were considered?

Answer: To solve the problems of urban issues effectively, it is necessary to relieve non-capital functions from Beijing in a strong, orderly, and effective manner, which requires a concentrated bearing area. Objectively speaking, planning and constructing this concentrated bearing area must rely on existing large cities like Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang while ensuring convenient transportation and moderate geographical conditions.

The planning scope of Xiong'an New Area involves three counties: Xiong County, Rongcheng County, Anxin County in Hebei Province, as well as surrounding areas. It is located in the hinterland of Beijing-Tianjin-Baoding. The planning construction of Xiong'an New Area starts with a specific area as an initial development zone covering about 100 square kilometers; the mid-term development zone covers about 200 square kilometers; and the long-term control zone covers about 2000 square kilometers.

In summary, this area has obvious location advantages and convenient transportation with multiple existing highways and railways that can quickly form a commuting circle within half an hour to Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang; it has excellent ecological environment with strong resource carrying capacity including Baiyangdian Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in North China; water resources are relatively abundant to meet regional ecological water needs; existing development levels are low with ample space for development; it possesses basic conditions for high-standard high-quality development construction.

The site selection for Xiong'an New Area was based on practical considerations after repeated comparisons, scientific research, and strict expert demonstrations before finally determining this area.

Ensure that one blueprint is followed through to completion.

Question: In planning and constructing Hebei's Xiong'an New Area, what are the next steps?

Answer: The notice issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council clarifies the overall requirements and key tasks for planning and constructing Hebei's Xiong'an New Area. In the next steps, we will work closely with relevant parties to focus on several aspects.

First plan before taking action; accelerate organizing planning work. We will adhere to global perspectives, international standards, Chinese characteristics, high positioning; gather outstanding talents from across the country; attract international talents; fully draw on international experience to guide Hebei Province and relevant parties in organizing high-standard high-quality preparation of overall plans for Xiong'an New Area as well as control plans for initial zones and detailed plans for starting areas along with ecological environment governance plans for Baiyangdian Lake to ensure that one blueprint is followed through to completion.

Make innovation-driven development as the fundamental driving force for new area growth; guide innovative elements to concentrate in this new area. Support creating a good innovative atmosphere from aspects such as innovation carriers, operational mechanisms, development environments; attract high-end innovative talents and teams; strive to build an innovation highland and a new technology city.

Deepen institutional mechanism reforms as institutional guarantees for new area development. Explore new management models for this new area; deepen administrative management system reforms; explore investment financing system reforms for this new area; establish long-term stable funding input mechanisms to attract social capital participation in new area construction.

Research relevant specific support policies according to construction needs of this new area. At the same time provide support for major projects related to transportation, ecology, water conservancy, energy, public services etc., during special planning implementation and major project layout funding arrangements.

Coordinate development between this new area and surrounding regions. Orderly concentrate on undertaking non-capital functions from Beijing to achieve dislocated development with central urban areas of Beijing as well as its urban sub-center.

In terms of planning, we aim to reach international first-class city levels while fully reflecting elements of Chinese culture in architecture; during construction processes we will meticulously craft buildings with craftsmanship spirit aiming at creating century-old structures that leave behind millennia-long heritage.

Planning and constructing Xiong'an New Area is a strategically significant choice with historical meaning. We must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core; firmly establish a mindset of working together as one piece; maintain historical patience; respect urban construction laws; carry forward craftsmanship spirit; steadily advance step by step while continuing efforts together to promote planning construction development work for Xiong'an New Area.