XIONG’AN NEW DISTRICT, Hebei Province – Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of strategic resolve and pragmatic action during a visit to the Xiong’an New District on March 23, emphasizing the demand for sustained focus on high-quality development. The visit, which included a meeting on advancing the district’s construction and development, signals continued high-level commitment to the ambitious project designed to redistribute functions away from Beijing and foster innovation in the region. The president’s remarks resonated with local officials and workers, reinforcing the long-term vision for Xiong’an as a model for modern urban development and a key component of China’s broader regional economic strategy.
The Xiong’an New District, established in 2017, is currently in a phase of large-scale construction and the relocation of non-capital functions from Beijing. Xi’s visit comes as the district aims to grow a hub for innovation and a demonstration zone for sustainable development. The president’s call for “strategic determination and historical patience” highlights the understanding that realizing the district’s full potential will require a sustained, long-term effort. This commitment to high-quality development is central to China’s broader economic goals.
A Boost for Workers and Educators
The impact of Xi’s visit was immediately felt among those working to build the new district. Zeng Weidong, director of the technology department at China Huadian Corporation, expressed feeling “deeply encouraged” after hearing the president’s address. “The General Secretary’s concern for our function and life, and his affirmation of everyone’s efforts for the construction and development of the new district, made me feel warm and more motivated,” Zeng said, adding that he would take the president’s instructions to heart as the company works to build a new energy system and contribute to China’s goal of becoming an energy superpower.
The president too visited the Beijing No. 4 High School Xiong’an Campus, where he emphasized the importance of well-rounded education for the district’s young residents. Wang Hui, a teacher at the school, shared her sense of responsibility following the visit. “Just as the General Secretary said, I am proud to be a Xiong’an resident,” Wang stated. “As a teacher in the new district, I deeply feel the weight of my responsibility. We will apply the experience of Beijing No. 4 High School to provide Xiong’an children with diverse, high-quality education, and care for their physical and mental health, so that they can grow up with the new district.”
Focus on Innovation and Regional Integration
Xi Jinping’s remarks also underscored the importance of maintaining the district’s core function – relieving Beijing of non-capital functions – and fostering innovation. Yu Guoyi, deputy director of the Xiong’an New District Administrative Committee, stated that the committee would focus on high-standard, high-quality construction, leveraging the relocation of functions to drive industrial development, technological innovation, and the attraction of talent and resources. This includes the development of the Xiong’an Central Business District, intended to be a major economic engine.
The president also stressed the need to improve public services and enhance the quality of life for residents. Li Jia, president of Xiong’an Xuanwu Hospital, emphasized the importance of providing high-quality healthcare services to the population. “We will adhere to the public hospital’s non-profit orientation, continuously improve service capabilities, and provide better medical care to the people with high-quality diagnosis and treatment, so as to lay a healthy foundation for the high-quality development of the ‘city of the future’,” Li said.
Synergies with Other Regional Development Zones
The development of Xiong’an is being viewed as part of a broader push to foster regional economic growth across China. Alongside the development of city clusters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region, Xiong’an is intended to serve as a catalyst for innovation and economic dynamism. Zhang Jihong, director of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Zhongguancun Science City Administrative Committee, highlighted the potential for collaboration, stating that the development of the Xiong’an Zhongguancun Science Park would accelerate the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements and attract industrial and innovative elements. This will require deeper regional collaboration.
Officials from other regions also expressed their commitment to learning from the Xiong’an model. Qu Yajun, director of the Development and Reform Commission of Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area, noted that Xi Jinping’s emphasis on cultivating a modern industrial system suited to the new district’s characteristics had critical implications for Liangjiang’s own high-quality development. Similarly, Zhang Jun, head of the New Energy Industry Department of the Industrial and Information Technology Bureau of Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, said that Changzhou would continue to leverage its strengths in the new energy sector to support integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta.
Wu Shulin, director of the Regional Coordination Development Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, emphasized the importance of implementing Xi Jinping’s instructions without reservation. “We will firmly grasp the functional positioning of the new district, strongly support the landing and development of evacuated units, coordinate and promote the construction and functional improvement of the new district, promote the gathering of industries and population, further deepen the reform of the system and mechanism, and strive to build a new era of innovation highlands and a model for high-quality development,” Wu said.
The president’s visit also highlighted the importance of environmental sustainability. Qi Lina, a staff member of the Xiong’an New District Ecological Environment Bureau, pledged to uphold the principle of green development and continue to strengthen ecological governance and protection in the new district, working towards a “beautiful Xiong’an with blue skies, green land, and clear water.”
Zhao Shuo, a marketing network manager for Tianjin Port, emphasized the port’s commitment to supporting Xiong’an’s development by optimizing logistics services for businesses in Beijing and the new district. This logistical support is crucial for the continued growth of the region.
The next key step in the development of Xiong’an will be the continued relocation of functions from Beijing and the attraction of investment and talent. The National Development and Reform Commission is expected to release further details on the implementation plan for the district’s development in the coming months. The success of Xiong’an will be a crucial test of China’s ability to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability and social equity.
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