Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei to be integrated

"We are working on the joint development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. We need to find a way to integrate the three regions instead of simply transferring Beijing's problem to the other two areas. Traffic problems such as how to make public transportation easier and environmental problems such as industrial transformation are the core problems," according to Beijing Vice Mayor Li Shixiang, the Beijing Times reported.

Li also said that by integrating the three regions, housing prices in Beijing can return to a reasonable level. "As the functions of Beijing get distributed, many people can live and work in Tianjin or Hebei, which will ease the housing price in Beijing," he said.