Beijing to launch next phase of subcenter construction

Beijing plans to launch the second phase of subcenter construction in its eastern Tongzhou district and build a comprehensive transportation hub, as soon as key municipal organs move to new offices in the subcenter, a senior official said on Monday.

The capital aims to design and build a high-quality subcenter that is eco-friendly, Beijing Mayor Chen Jining said during the 15th Beijing's People Congress.

"Landscape projects will be thoroughly carried out in Tongzhou district to improve the canal business zone," he said.

He said a number of public-service projects, including the subcenter theater, libraries and museums, will start construction and the old town in Tongzhou district will conduct ecological restoration to protect its environment and complete urban repairs.

Planning and construction in areas along the border of Beijing and Langfang, Hebei province, will go forward as part of the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, he said.

Construction of the first phase of the subcenter is making steady progress, said Tan Xuxiang, director of the city's development and reform commission.

"We are working on 235 major projects in 2019 with 136 currently under construction," he said. "A total of 75 billion yuan ($11 billion) has been invested."

Zhao Lei, director of Tongzhou district and a deputy to the congress, said the district had completed 19 projects this year and that the green space and water areas of the subcenter will be substantially increased to achieve harmonic coexistence in the urban areas.

By 2035, the green space of the city's subcenter will reach 41 square kilometers, Zhao said.

A system to control water pollution and flooding is also expected to be built in the subcenter.