Infrastructure construction continues in Xiong'an New Area

A number of key projects in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province, have entered new development phases with new buildings roofed by the end of June, the latest step in the process of transferring Beijing's non-capital city functions to the neighboring area.

Xiong'an Smart City Science and Innovation Center — an innovation hub under construction — saw its first building roofed on Friday.

Located in an internet industrial park, the project includes office space, labs, exhibition halls and innovation centers, Yang Xiangfu, an official from the project's construction company, was quoted as saying by Hebei Daily.

The project's first phase is expected to be complete in September next year, Yang said.

At that time, some 2,000 people are expected to be employed there. Research, industry insight and market expansion will serve the integrated development of informatization and smart cities in Xiong'an, he added.

A key meeting on Friday of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee — the Party's core leadership — reviewed policy measures to support the area's high-standard and high-quality construction, according to a summary of the meeting.

It called for a steady and orderly approach, within manageable limits, to advance the implementation and construction of landmark relocation projects.

In April 2017, China announced plans to set up Xiong'an New Area about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing to take on functions nonessential to the city's role as China's capital.

Since then, the area has been transforming into an emerging, sophisticated and modern city.

The construction of a number of apartment blocks for professionals was also completed in June, according to a report by China Media Group.

It's hoped that personnel in management and scientific research from some State-owned enterprises directly under the central government in Beijing can be transferred, the report said.

According to official data, State-owned enterprises have set up more than 150 institutes in the area, and another 30 subsidiaries of those enterprises are expected to settle in the area this year.

Supporting infrastructure including a service center for residential communities, a kindergarten and a primary school in Xiong'an's Rongdong area is expected to be complete by the end of this month, according to local authorities.