Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region Celebrates Decade of Remarkable Development Achievements

Beijing, The Gulf Observer: The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has showcased significant achievements in high-quality development over the past decade, according to statements made by Guo Lanfeng, a senior official with the National Development and Reform Commission, during a press conference on Tuesday.

In early 2014, China initiated a pivotal strategy known as “Jing-Jin-Ji,” aimed at coordinating the development of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei into a regional city cluster. Guo Lanfeng highlighted the substantial progress made in building a comprehensive transport system, contributing to improved urban management and cross-regional coordinated development.

The region has successfully established a one to one-and-a-half-hour traffic circle linking major cities, marking a significant milestone in transportation infrastructure. Guo Lanfeng emphasized the positive impact on urban management and cross-regional collaboration brought about by this comprehensive transport system.

One of the notable successes in the past decade is the significant improvement in the ecological environment. The average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the region dropped by nearly 60 percent in 2023 compared to the 2014 level, reflecting a substantial achievement in environmental sustainability.

Referring to the clear skies over Beijing, Guo Lanfeng stated that “‘Beijing blue’ has become a normal phenomenon for the Chinese capital.”

The Jing-Jin-Ji coordinated development strategy played a vital role in addressing “urban ills” in Beijing, such as traffic congestion and pollution. The strategy aimed to relocate non-capital functions from Beijing, resulting in the resettlement of 3,000 manufacturing enterprises and the relocation or upgrade of nearly 1,000 markets and logistics centers.

Several universities have also initiated the construction of new campuses in the Xiong’an New Area of Hebei Province, contributing to the decentralization of educational institutions.

Guo Lanfeng emphasized that the strategy has alleviated urban challenges in Beijing, and its capital functions will be more fully demonstrated in the future. The ongoing efforts to move functions out of Beijing have paved the way for the national economic layout and enhanced sustainable development.

The coordinated development strategy has further aimed to bridge the development gap between Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Over the past decade, enterprises in Beijing’s Zhongguancun area, known as “China’s Silicon Valley,” have established more than 10,000 branches in Tianjin and Hebei.

Tianjin Port’s container throughput exceeded 22 million twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, marking a 58 percent increase since 2014 and ranking eighth globally. The strategy has also positively impacted tourism in Hebei Province, which received 840 million tourists in the previous year, including 120 million from Beijing and Tianjin.

Zhang Chengzhong, Executive Vice Governor of Hebei, expressed optimism about the future, stating that “Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei will continue to expand the breadth and depth of cooperation in the future, pushing the coordinated development of the region to a new level.”