Vice premier stresses Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli has called for formulating the 13th Five-year Plan (2016-2020) of the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.

In a work conference on the issue, Zhang stressed the importance of transferring non-essential functions from Beijing to neighboring areas.

Breakthroughs must be achieved in transportation integration, environmental protection and industrial upgrading in the region, he said.

Zhang also called for combined efforts to fight air pollution, on the day Beijing issued its first red alert for smog.

He also stressed the work of alleviating poverty in the region.

During the conference, Zhang delivered messages from President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang calling for the integration to be based on innovation, coordination, green and open development.

According to a document released in August on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei program, China aims to make Beijing "the national center of political, cultural, and international exchange activities" as well as a technological innovation center.

Under the plan, Tianjin Municipality will be a national research and development base for advanced manufacturing, a shipping hub for north China, a demonstration area for financial innovation, and an experimental area for further reform and opening up.

Hebei Province will be a national base for trade and logistics, an experimental area for industrial transition and upgrading, a demonstration area of modern urbanization and coordinated development of urban and rural areas, and an ecological buffer zone.

By 2020, the government wants to have stabilized the population of Beijing at 23 million.

Social development gaps between different areas will also be reduced as a result of better delivery of public services in the region, according to the program. Endi