(ECNS) -- Beijing's population will gradually be shifted to the planned Xiongan New Area in neighboring Hebei Province as the city focuses on its role as national capital, said an official at Beijing Development and Reform Commission.
Hailed as a major historic and strategic decision, Xiongan New Area is a new economic zone about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing regarded as a new home for "non-capital" functions.
The area will primarily be the recipient of non-capital functions from Beijing, including some administrative and public institutions, company headquarters, financial institutions, higher education and sci-tech units.
"We will guide non-capital functions from Beijing to relocate to Xiongan New Area in an orderly way and promote coordinated, integrated growth," said the official.
Beijing will support the relocation of creative elements including high-tech industries in the Zhongguancun hub in their move to Xiongan, and also facilitate innovative ideas emanating from the capital in the new area, it was stated.
The official added that Xiongan New Area is still in the stage of overall planning and that Beijing would assist the process, including the development of better transport connections between both areas.
