Chinese vice-premier stresses quality construction of Xiongan New Area

XIONG'AN, Hebei - Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng Wednesday stressed high standards and quality in the construction of the Xiongan New Area, which is expected to help relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital.

Han, during an inspection tour of Xiongan, highlighted clear goals and guiding principles in the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

"Whether planning macro projects or micro ones, we must stick to the core principle to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital," said Han, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Some Beijing-based universities, hospitals and headquarters of centrally-administered state-owned enterprises will move to Xiongan in batches, while favorable policies on education, healthcare, social insurance and housing should be in place and improving to make Xiongan more attractive to those who move there, he noted.

Han also underscored construction quality, pollution treatment and ecology protection.

China announced its plan to establish the Xiongan New Area on April 1, 2017 to advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.