In the move to integrate the cities of Beijing and Tianjin, and Hebei province, the focus has to be on thought, organizations and planning to provide basis for other areas.

The following interview was arranged by China Policy Review, with the vice-director-general of Research Institute of Resource and Environmental Policies at the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), Li Zuojun:

CPReview: China's National Development and Reform Commission began work on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei plan, a decade ago, in 2004, and reported to the State Council on the effort, in 2010. So, there has been some integration work for many years, but why can't we see any results? Are there institutional obstacles to overcome?

Li: In fact, there have been several Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei plans, such as an integrated development plan for the capital economy circle, a capital green economy circle launched by Hebei province, and the Bohai Rim regional development plan, none of which had the expected effect, for the following reasons: first, the plans were started at local level rather than by the central government and it was hard to see any substantial progress; second, there were no institutions or conferences to promote the triple-integration process; and third, the conditions in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province are quite different; for example, there's a huge gap between Beijing and the rural areas of Hebei that are its periphery, which makes integration difficult.

CPReview: Which areas will the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei strategy cover, and what role will the three areas play respectively, and how can they hope to come up with winning results?

Li: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration means making an efforts in a dozen areas, involving thought, organization and institutional coordination, land and personnel policies, planning, population, transportation and communications, water conservation, environmental control, ecological efforts, industrial development, products and production factor markets, science and technology R&D and its applications, public services, and brands. And these are a complete system and depend on each other for promotion, but priority must be given to integration of thought, organization, and planning.

CPReview: South Korea's Sejong became a sort of second capital, in 2004, and Japan decided to build a second capital in the Kinki region in 2005. Many other countries such as the United States, Netherlands, South Africa, and Bolivia have separate legislative and administrative areas, but they don't refer to one of them as a "second capital". But, could Baoding in Hebei province, let's say, or Beijing's Tongzhou district, possible become a second political center in China?

Li: The restructuring of governmental agencies is a very complex process. Nonetheless, it's clear that some of Beijing's functions do need to be transferred, no matter where it happens to be, say Beijing's Tongzhou or Daxing districts, or Hebei cities such as Baoding or Langfang. And, the country has to consider many things, such as location, transportation, economic development, and acceptability and needs careful planning overall. Even thinking at the regional level is far from enough.

CPReview: The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration could involve the moving of Beijing's polluting industries, but which other places would they be transferred to? And how do they avoid ecological and environmental destruction in the integration? And what policies cover the regions getting these industries?

Li: We strongly disapprove of the transfer of pollution because, if the polluter is transferred to Hebei province, say, the problem still remains. The country needs unified environmental protection and ecological standards to prevent and control pollution. And, the government needs unified laws, regulations, and policies as soon as possible and enterprises need to make choices based on these regulations, and consider the cost and benefit of moving. Hebei has had some advantages in land, labor, and materials and can use them to attract enterprises and investment.

CPReview: How to we promote the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration in a better way? And, which areas need a breakthrough in this process?

Li: Priority should be given to the integration of thought, organization, and planning in the three regions, because it is only through consensus that we can carry this out in a smooth way. The integration involves three areas, so it needs an office at the highest level to work out the contradictions and problems. The government also needs to be more forward-looking in its plans, and needs to accelerate planning for the whole area in general, and then plan for each in particular in construction, land use, industries, and environmental protection.

Author: Ma Yurong and Wu Si

Source: China Policy Review, 2014 (5)