Hebei eyes stronger regional integration

Hebei will advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, leveraging its high-quality development to enhance regional infrastructure connectivity and better meet the practical needs of the region, said deputies to the National People's Congress.

The province will steadily undertake the relocation of non-capital functions from Beijing in an orderly manner, actively foster new quality productive forces, and advance the high-quality development of the Xiong'an New Area to enhance its overall competitiveness during the 15th Five-Year-Plan period (2026-30), representatives said during a group deliberation on March 6.

Ni Yuefeng, a deputy to the 14th NPC and secretary of the Communist Party of China Hebei Provincial Committee, said Hebei will seize major opportunities to accelerate its development by better aligning with and serving Beijing and Tianjin, helping to transform the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region into a pioneer and demonstration zone for Chinese modernization.

In 2025, Hebei's GDP grew by 5.6 percent, outpacing the national average. At the same time, renewable energy accounted for over 70 percent of the province's total installed power capacity, while air quality improved markedly, he said.

In supporting and integrating with Beijing and Tianjin, Hebei has also accelerated its own development, Ni noted. He said that the province supplies vegetables to Beijing's markets, and many domestic workers from Hebei are employed in the capital, significantly boosting residents' per capita income and improving their living standards

Zhang Guohua, a deputy to the 14th NPC, said that the Xiong'an New Area is being developed as a centralized hub for the relocation of non-capital functions from Beijing, helping to drive high-quality urban development.

The new area has achieved annual investment exceeding 200 billion yuan ($28.98 billion), with cumulative investment surpassing 1 trillion yuan, spanning a total development area of 215 square kilometers, said Zhang, who is also the secretary of the Working Committee of Xiong'an New Area of the Communist Party of China Hebei Provincial Committee.

Over the next five years, Xiong'an will align its development with the broader framework of coordinated growth in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, actively integrating into the construction of a modern metropolitan area centered on the capital, while enhancing its visibility, development capacity, and overall competitiveness, he said.

"Efforts will focus on strengthening its economic strength, scientific and technological innovation capabilities, talent attraction, infrastructure and public services, cultural influence, sustainable development, international profile, and modern governance capacity," Zhang said.

Han Xu, a deputy to the 14th NPC and the Party secretary of Hebei University of Technology said education plays a vital role in advancing regional integration and supporting sustainable development.

Hebei should harness the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, align with key national strategic needs, capitalize on the high-quality educational resources in Beijing and Tianjin, and deepen collaboration with universities in those cities, he said.

Guided by its digital education strategy, Hebei will collaborate with Beijing and Tianjin to optimize regional educational resources and foster an open, collaborative, and intelligent educational ecosystem, nurturing high-caliber talent to drive the growth of new, high-quality productive forces, Han said.

Zhang Yu in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province contributed to this story.

liujianqiao@chinadaily.com.cn