Beijing closer to Tianjin, Hebei in year three

During President Xi Jinping's two-day inspection tour last week, when he visited the construction site of the capital's new airport in southern Beijing and the administrative sub-center Tongzhou district, he urged officials to improve urban planning, in order to build a "harmonious, world-class capital city" that better serves its residents.

First proposed in 2014, the country's grand plan to integrate and synergistically develop Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and neighboring Hebei province enters the third year when Xi's vision will move closer to its realization.

On the "top-design" mechanism, the Leading Group Office of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordinated Development has been set up to lead the reform along with relevant departments under some ministries of the State Council, China's cabinet, while the heads of the three areas also hold office at local branches.