After Chinese President Xi Jinping was briefed on a work report about the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province, he stressed the region’s integration represented a “major national strategy.”

“It is necessary to break through the mental block of only looking after the interests of one area. Uniting together to move towards the goal of top-level design is needed,” he said.

Balancing and coordinating the development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei has been touted as the key to overcoming difficulties in integration of the three areas.

Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has undergone a lengthy process due to numerous reasons.

Firstly, Beijing has gathered a large portion of resources. This “siphoning” effect has hampered development of areas surrounding Beijing, said Niu Fengrui, research fellow at the Institute of Urban and Environmental Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Secondly, the traditional partitioned governance system and development of some areas at the neglect of others has severely hindered integrated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, said Guo Zhiyi, a professor from the School of Economics at Lanzhou University.

Li Zuojun, deputy director of the Institute of Resources and Environment Policies under the Development Research Center of the State Council, urged governments of the three areas to join hands and consolidate strategic planning of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region’s integration.

“Promoting the integrated construction of infrastructure covering water conservancy, transportation and communications is at the core of enhancing the top-level design,” said Li.

Equalization of urbanization, environmental protection, social security and public services along with rational distribution and utilization of resources are important measures to push ahead the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration.

Beijing has taken action to this end by setting up a leading group for regional coordinated development and reform headed by Li Shixiang, deputy mayor of Beijing.

In order to further strengthen the top-level design, Ye Wenhu, director of the China Sustainable Development Research Center at Peking University, suggested establishing a Communist Party of China (CPC) work group dedicated to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration. The group would be responsible for overall planning, coordination and supervision of integration work.

Guo said indistinct functional design and unreasonable industrial structure were hindering further integration.

As the nation’s capital, Beijing should serves as a center for politics, culture, international exchanges and technological innovation. But it has shouldered far more responsibilities to the neglect of Tianjin and Hebei, which have high-polluting enterprises and massive over-capacity.

There is urgent need to transfer Beijing’s non-capital responsibilities to Tianjin and Hebei. More State-owned enterprises should be relocated from Beijing to ease its swelling population. The rules of urban economy and regional development should be observed.

To balance and coordinate development of the Beijing-Tianjin–Hebei region, government and market forces must be balanced.

The first priority should be given to better handling the relationships between Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, and scientifically defining their functions.

Beijing should take advantage of its status as a scientific and technological hub for innovation. Tianjin should give full play to logistics and shipping, cementing itself as an economic and shipping center in North China. Hebei should optimize its supporting role for the region, strengthening measures for associated industries.

“Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei must not seek a self-styled industrial system, but step up collaboration to facilitate the industrial transformation and upgrading of the region,” warned Chen Xiushan, a professor from the School of Public Administration and Policy at Renmin University of China

Secondly, the relationship between Beijing and Tianjin should also be properly handled. Beijing and Tianjin form the “dual core” in the region. Tianjin is striving to consolidate its status as an economic center in North China. Beijing, owing to its multiple functions, has outstripped Tianjin in economic terms. The two cities have strong motives to compete in the spheres of infrastructure, environmental resources and manufacturing.

Finally, it is urgent to solve current problems in transportation, population growth and environmental protection. All these challenges loom large in Beijing, and consequently impede the capital from effective and high-quality growth. It is suggested that consideration be given to the adaptability of surrounding cities when Beijing redistributes some of its population, public service functions and industries to Tianjin and Hebei. Only when they adapt to population, resource and environmental changes can the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei be furthered.

The Chinese version appeared in Chinese Social Sciences Today, No. 588, 25 April, 2014.

The Chinese link: http://www.csstoday.net/xueshuzixun/guoneixinwen/89226.html

　　Translated by Chen Mirong

　　Revised by Tom Fearon