Economic zone takes shape around Beijing's new airport

With Beijing Daxing International Airport slated to open on Sept. 30, the economic zone around the airport is taking shape. 

Aimed at promoting the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the cross-regional zone is planned to include the 50-square-kilometer airport area in Beijing, which is divided into Yufa Area in the west and Lixian Area in the east. 

Liu Dingding, deputy manager of Beijing New Aerotropolis, a company responsible for developing the Beijing airport area, said the corporation is building a smart, diverse, and open working space in the area to buttress its innovation-driven development, and the area will be completed with facilities offering functions such as education, medical care, nursing care, culture, sports, and business.

The airport area has been wooing many foreign companies who show interest in making investment in biomedicine, IT, and environmental protection in the area. Recently, Dubai's Emaar Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Beijing New Aerotropolis to build a commercial complex combining shopping, entertainment, and offices in the airport area.

The airport area has whittled the number of potential partners down to more than 200, and signed strategic cooperation deals with 34 companies. 

Liu said the zone will draw up the experience of other airport economic zones, and build a new mode of airport economic area driven by professionals and innovation.