Xiongan New Area a torchbearer of reform

On April 1, China announced it will establish Xiongan New Area in North China's Hebei province, about 100 kilometers southwest of downtown Beijing, covering the counties of Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin. A fundamental mission of the new area, which is expected to emulate and improve on the success of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Shanghai Pudong New Area, will be absorbing part of the non-capital functions of Beijing.

Three years ago, President Xi Jinping made clear Beijing's role as the national capital: the country's political center, cultural center, and center for international exchanges and science and technological innovation. The city is making efforts to cure itself of the "urban diseases", including growing population, traffic congestion, soaring property prices and an insatiable demand for resources.

While designed to offload part of Beijing's non-capital functions, which have not yet been elaborated by the decision-makers, Xiongan New Area attaches equal importance to "reform" and "opening-up". In other words, the new area has great potential to become an exemplary economic zone driven by reform and innovation.