(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for greater efforts to make Xiong’an New Area in north China’s Hebei Province an innovation hub in the new era and a high-quality development model.
Xi, also Chinese President and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected the Xiong’an New Area on Monday, where he also chaired a symposium on promoting high-quality construction and development of the area.
He stressed the need to firmly maintain the main functional positioning of the Xiong’an New Area, namely that of the main recipient of functions transferred from Beijing which are not essential to its role as capital of China.
The New Area should strengthen its endogenous development momentum through reform and innovation, and release its vitality through reasonable concentration of production factors and resources, Xi said.
On Monday morning, Xi arrived in Xiong’an and drove to the site to inspect the progress of work in the start-up zone. He then visited China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., which transferred more than 1,000 employees to Xiong’an in October 2025, and received presentations on the company’s relocation, industrial establishment and innovative development.
Within the company, he had a cordial exchange with representatives of managers and staff of the relocated organizations already operating in the New Zone and those currently under construction, in order to learn about their life and work.
Xi also visited the Xiong’an campus of Beijing No. 4 High School, where he spoke with teachers and students in classrooms to learn about the teaching conditions there. In the school canteen, he examined the dining environment and the variety of dishes offered.
On Monday afternoon, Xi chaired the symposium and delivered an important speech. He acknowledged that significant progress has been made in the construction and development of Xiong’an New Area.
He added that the decision of the CPC Central Committee to develop the new area was completely right, and all related works were carried out soundly and efficiently.
Xi stressed the need to relieve Beijing of functions not essential to its role as the national capital and integrate them into the New Area in a more vigorous and orderly manner, as well as to advance the construction of relocation projects of state-owned enterprises directly administered by the central government, universities and hospitals in an active, steady and gradual manner.
Xi stressed systematic planning and integrated promotion of high-quality development and effective governance, calling for efforts to improve the public service system, preserve and strengthen people’s well-being, and actively explore forward-looking smart city management models.
The Xiong’an New Area should develop a modern industrial system suited to its realities, Xi said, stressing that it should advance the high-level development of a science park to accelerate the application of scientific and technological advancements.
The New Zone should promote the development of emerging industry clusters and industries of the future, pioneer the implementation of innovative policies in science and technology, finance and others, and create a market-oriented and law-based business environment in line with international standards, he added.
Xi further urged the New Zone to strengthen Party leadership and Party building while firmly establishing and putting into practice a right vision of political performance.
Xi was accompanied by Premier Li Qiang, Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, all of whom are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
