Capital's revised plan spreads population

BEIJING - International organizations and multinational companies may set up their headquarters in the capital's Tongzhou district, to the east of Beijing's central business district, if revisions to the metropolis' urban plan are approved, Beijing News has reported.

During ongoing discussions about updating Beijing's urban blueprint, planners have proposed the construction of "Tongzhou New City", southeast of the suburban district of Tongzhou, both to boost the regional economy and ease pressure on the capital's downtown core, said the district's deputy head, Zhang Hua.

The district's international vision is part of Beijing's plan to revise its urban development strategy, Huang Yan, the director of the Beijing municipal commission of urban planning, told the newspaper. She said the commission will kick off a "large-scale modification" in 2013 to address problems arising from fast urbanization.