Non-capital function relocation fuels Xiong'an's rapid growth

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Xiong'an New Area in North China's Hebei province solidified its role as the primary hub for relocating non-capital functions from Beijing, marking a key phase of large-scale construction and high-quality development.

At a news conference held on Thursday, officials detailed the area's remarkable progress, underscoring that the strategic relocation drive remains the core engine fueling its rapid rise.

Over the past five years, Xiong'an has achieved an impressive average annual GDP growth of 17.1 percent, supported by a sustained annual investment scale of around 200 billion yuan ($28 billion), cumulatively exceeding one trillion yuan, according to Wang Yanwei, head of Xiong'an's reform and development bureau.

This growth is linked to the concerted efforts in undertaking the relocation of non-capital functions from Beijing.

Major centrally-administered State-owned enterprises, including China Satellite Network Group, Sinochem Holdings, and China Huaneng Group, have officially relocated their headquarters to Xiong'an, Wang said. In the meantime, construction is accelerating on the China Mineral Resources Group's headquarters, the first batch of four relocated universities, and two hospitals.

A second wave of projects is underway, with the China Datang Corporation headquarters starting construction, and other major enterprises and institutions having finalized their locations, including three hospitals and five universities.

The focused relocation is creating powerful clusters, with more than 400 subsidiaries and innovative business segments of central enterprises established in the area.

Xiong'an is becoming a concentrated zone for higher education, talent, high-end medical resources, and centrally-administered State-owned enterprises and innovative business sectors, Wang said. This influx is underpinned by robust infrastructure and streamlined governance.

Key transportation arteries like the east-west axis railway and the Jingxiong Express Line, which links Xiong'an with Beijing Daxing International Airport, are nearing completion.

The public service functions of the area have been progressively upgraded. A number of cultural and sports facilities, such as the Xiong'an Sports Center and the Xiong'an Library, have been completed and put into use.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), Xiong'an will continue to hold firmly to its major task, leveraging the relocation of non-capital functions to drive industrial innovation, technological advancement, and further talent aggregation, aiming for a decisive leap in building a modern city with high standards and high quality, Wang said.