Implementing the Spirit of the Two Sessions: Hebei Accelerates Development by Aligning with and Serving Beijing and Tianjin

SHIJIAZHUANG, March 22 (Xinhua) — Headline: Hebei: Accelerating Development Through Integration with and Service to Beijing and Tianjin

　　Xinhua News Agency reporter

　　At the closing session of the First Meeting of the 14th National People’s Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “We must unswervingly promote high-quality development” and “We must fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy.”

　　In implementing the spirit of the Two Sessions, Hebei Province has embraced the new development philosophy, firmly focusing on the relocation of non-capital functions from Beijing as the key priority. The province has refined concrete measures to carry out the tasks outlined in this year’s Government Work Report, such as “promoting coordinated development among Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei” and “building the Xiongan New Area to high standards and with high quality.” By aligning with and serving Beijing and Tianjin, Hebei is accelerating its development and continuously advancing the coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region in both breadth and depth.

　　Shortly after the conclusion of the Two Sessions, the Xiong’an New Area hosted a series of events aimed at taking on the relocation of non-capital functions from Beijing. On March 18, at the Xiong’an Business Service Center, the Xiong’an International Forum on Smart Transportation and the China Communications Construction Future Science and Technology City Industrial Development Conference were held, during which 86 innovative enterprises signed agreements on-site to establish operations, covering fields such as digital technology, network communications, new‑energy development, and aerospace engineering. This marked the largest-ever cluster‑level signing of innovative enterprises since the New Area’s establishment, and a vivid illustration of Xiong’an’s efforts to absorb Beijing’s non‑capital functions and advance high‑quality development.

　　This is an exterior view of the Baoding–Zhongguancun Innovation Base, captured by drone. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhao Hongyu.

　　“General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Two Sessions that private enterprises must embrace the new development philosophy, while the Government Work Report called for ‘building the Xiongan New Area to high standards and with high quality.’ Our company will seize the momentum of the Xiongan New Area to vigorously advance its own high‑quality development,” said Qi Xiangdong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and Chairman of Qianxin Technology Group. He added that since the group’s Xiongan subsidiary moved into the Xiongan Business Service Center, its confidence in growth has grown even stronger. Xiongan is a brand‑new city, brimming with vast digital use cases and a favorable innovation ecosystem—everywhere presents opportunities. The company plans to establish its Digital City Security Headquarters in Xiongan, set up a Research Institute for Digital City Cybersecurity and a talent‑training base for cybersecurity professionals, and actively participate in the new area’s digital‑city development, thereby contributing to Xiongan’s high‑quality growth.

　　Recently, a group of Tangshan officials conducted in-depth field investigations at key Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei cooperation platforms, including Caofeidian, to implement the spirit of the Two Sessions. During these on-the-ground visits, Zhang Yuexian, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Vice Mayor of Tangshan, emphasized that, particularly during critical phases of urban development, it is essential to deeply grasp General Secretary Xi Jinping’s call—reiterated at the Two Sessions—to “fully, accurately, and comprehensively apply the new development philosophy.” Focusing on industrial-chain collaboration, Tangshan will continue to enhance the capacity of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Caofeidian Collaborative Development Demonstration Zone and the Tianjin–Hebei (Lutai–Hanggu) Collaborative Development Demonstration Zone. Centered on the city’s 15 priority industries, Tangshan will align with second- and third-tier subsidiaries of central state-owned enterprises and resources from Beijing-based firms, fostering and expanding leading industrial clusters to accelerate high-quality development.

　　One Zhongguancun, many new blossoms. The Baoding–Zhongguancun Innovation Center continues to attract science-and‑technology‑driven enterprises, facilitating the localization and commercialization of numerous Beijing‑originated innovations in Baoding. According to Zhang Shuguang, head of the center, this year’s government work report—highlighting the “in-depth implementation of the innovation‑driven development strategy and the promotion of industrial structure optimization and upgrading”—has energized entrepreneurs. “In recent days, we have leveraged salons, WeChat groups, video conferences, and other formats to thoroughly study the spirit of the Two Sessions, while actively planning to bring in cutting‑edge technological and industrial resources from Beijing and Tianjin, thereby driving the digital and intelligent transformation and upgrading of Baoding’s traditional sectors—including power, machinery, textiles, and automotive industries.”

　　At present, the “Beijing–Tianjin R&D, Hebei Transformation” innovation collaboration model is flourishing across multiple locations, injecting a powerful dose of innovation into Hebei’s economic development. Following her return to Baoding after the conclusion of the Two Sessions, National People’s Congress deputy and Baoding Mayor Yan Jihong has been deeply reflecting on how to leverage the abundant science and technology resources of Beijing and Tianjin to accelerate high-quality development.

　　The construction site of the Xiong’an Xuanwu Hospital, located in the Startup Area of the Xiong’an New Area (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhu Xudong.

　　“Baoding is vigorously implementing an innovation-driven development strategy, working hand in hand with Beijing and Tianjin to build a collaborative innovation community, thereby truly putting into practice General Secretary Xi Jinping’s call—emphasized at the closing session of the First Meeting of the 14th National People’s Congress—to ‘make concerted efforts to enhance our capacity for scientific and technological self-reliance and strength,’” said Yan Jihong. At present, Baoding is accelerating the construction of major projects such as the China Minmetals Zhuozhou Science and Technology Industrial Park and the China Agricultural University’s research platform on animal phenotypes and genetics, while adopting a new “listing‑and‑appointing” mechanism to encourage research institutions from Beijing, Tianjin, and other regions to showcase their scientific and technological achievements in Baoding and facilitate their practical application and commercialization.

　　Since the approval in 2022 of the Beijing Tongzhou District–Langfang Northern Three Counties Integrated High-Quality Development Demonstration Zone, Beijing and Hebei have continuously strengthened integration and coordination across transportation, industry, ecology, and other sectors.

　　To advance balanced regional development, transportation serves as the “vanguard.” At the construction site of the Changbai River Bridge on the Changtong Road—a key project in the coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region—work on the main bridge’s pile foundations is proceeding around the clock to ensure completion of the substructure before the flood season arrives. Once open to traffic, Changtong Road will become a vital link between Langfang’s northern three counties and Beijing’s urban sub-center, cutting the drive from Dachang Hui Autonomous County to the core area of Beijing’s urban sub-center by nearly half an hour.

　　“General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during his participation in the deliberations of the Jiangsu delegation, ‘We must always grasp, assess, and advance development by upholding the intrinsic unity of innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and shared benefits.’ The construction of the demonstration zone for high-quality integrated development between Beijing’s Tongzhou District and Langfang’s northern three counties must fully implement this requirement,” said Li Guoyong, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and Mayor of Langfang. He added that Langfang’s northern three counties will strengthen cooperation with Beijing’s Tongzhou District to smooth the integrated transportation network, foster an integrated industrial structure, elevate the level of integrated public services, establish an integrated ecological barrier, and create an integrated business environment.

　　This year, Langfang will accelerate the construction of major transportation projects, including the Hebei section of Beijing’s Pinggu Line and the Changtong Road project. It will collaborate with Beijing to host project promotion and matchmaking events, strengthen cooperation with central and Beijing‑based enterprises such as the Beijing Investment Group, and strive to secure the signing and implementation of more projects. At the same time, Langfang will actively attract high‑quality educational, medical, and elderly‑care resources from Beijing, introduce “Beijing‑standard services” to participate more deeply in municipal infrastructure development, management, and operations, and advance the next‑generation upgrade of the “cross‑regional one‑stop service” for government affairs. (Reporters Zhang Tao, Qi Lejie, Zhao Hongyu, and Du Yifang)