Xi urges efforts to build Xiong'an New Area into innovation hub, model of high-quality development

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged efforts to build the Xiong'an New Area in north China's Hebei Province into an innovation hub in the new era and a model of promoting high-quality development.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected the Xiong'an New Area on Monday, when he also chaired a symposium on further advancing the area's high-quality construction and development. At the symposium, Xi said that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and through the joint efforts of all parties, the construction and development of the Xiong'an New Area have achieved major phased results. Xi pointed out that to further advance the high-quality construction and development of the Xiong'an New Area, it is essential to strictly adhere to the New Area's designated functional positioning and to promote, in a more forceful and orderly manner, the relocation and integration of Beijing's non-capital functions.

It is necessary to actively and steadily push forward the construction of relocation projects for central state-owned enterprises, universities, and hospitals in batches, promote, in an orderly way, the relocation of financial institutions, research institutes and public institutions, and support the better development of the relocated entities, said Xi.

Policy guarantees and services for relocation projects and personnel must be strengthened to guide and enable relocated functions to effectively drive the development of the Xiong'an New Area and its surrounding regions, he said. Xi said that to continuously enhance the Xiong'an New Area's overall carrying capacity, it is essential to adopt a systematic approach, comprehensively advancing both high-quality construction and high-efficiency governance.

He urged efforts to advance the construction of the start-up area and the initial zone, and strive to create "Xiong'an Quality.

Public service system should be improved, and efforts must be focused on ensuring and improving people's livelihoods, Xi said, adding that active exploration of future-oriented smart city management models is needed to build a beautiful Xiong'an with blue skies, green land, and clear water.

Noting that the Xiong'an New Area should take reform and innovation as its driving force, Xi said the area must promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions, and cultivate a modern industrial system that aligns with its actual conditions.

The Xiong'an New Area Zhongguancun (ZGC) Science Park should be built to a high standard to facilitate the transformation and application of more scientific and technological achievements, he said.

He stressed promoting clustered development of emerging and future industries, developing producer services, and supporting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.

He urged efforts to implement innovative policies in fields such as science, technology, and finance, striving to create a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Cai Qi, who is director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang also attended the symposium. They are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

In his speech, Premier Li emphasized seeking new progress in undertaking the relocation of Beijing's non-capital functions, accelerating the improvement of public services, fostering a first-class industrial ecosystem, and building an innovation highland for the new era.

He also urged Xiong'an to pursue new achievements in promoting the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Vice Premier Ding said that the Xiong'an New Area should fully implement the innovation-driven development strategy. It should deeply integrate into the regional collaborative innovation network, and foster a first-class innovation ecosystem for the development of emerging and future industries, he said.

Xi urges efforts to build Xiong'an New Area into innovation hub, model of high-quality development

China has turned green technologies once confined to textbooks into everyday life, said Milla, a Kazakhstan student in Beijing, as she shared her experiences and perspectives on the country’s green development and the application of new energy in daily life.

Milla described how China's push for sustainability is visible not only in national policy but also in her everyday campus life at Tsinghua University. Navigating the historic grounds, the economics student relies on a bicycle to get between classes, a choice she finds both convenient and environmentally friendly.

She added that the university actively promotes sustainability through initiatives such as recycling systems and water-conservation reminders, noting that shared bicycles have become a practical feature of campus life.

"I really love seeing how Tsinghua University is trying to become greener. There are many small initiatives that encourage students to live more sustainably, such as recycling systems, reminding not to waste water, and shared bicycles all across campus," she said.

Milla's observation extend far beyond the university gates. She noticed the rapid proliferation of electric vehicles, identifiable by their distinctive green license plates. What has left Milla an even deeper impression is the emergence of hydrogen-powered vehicles, a technology she first encountered not on the street, but in a high school textbook.

"Another thing that amazed me even more was seeing hydrogen-powered buses. I was actually so surprised when I first saw one. Hydrogen energy is something I became interested in back in 10th grade, when I first saw it in a textbook. Hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel. When hydrogen is used to produce energy, the main byproduct is water instead of harmful emissions, which makes it one of the most clean energy sources scientists are developing today. Seeing how hydrogen-powered vehicles are working in real life made me realize that technologies we once only read about in textbooks are slowly becoming a part of everyday life," said Milla.

Milla said that witnessing these technologies in action has reinforced a broader understanding of solving environmental problems.

"For me, learning about these technologies is incredibly exciting. It shows that solving environmental problems is not only about reducing emissions but it's also about innovating and thinking about new ways, how to make energy. Studying economics while still being interested in environmental protection allows me to see how technology, policy and economic systems can work together to build a cleaner and a more sustainable future," she said.

Her remarks are also being vividly manifested at the upcoming Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 prepares to be held in Hainan from March 24 to 27, when green and smart operations will be a key feature. All venues will be powered by 100 percent renewable electricity throughout the conference, with total power consumption expected to reach about two million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 1,200 tonnes. Meanwhile, a number of AI-powered systems will be deployed for the first time.

Thousands of representatives from government, business and academia will gather under the theme "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, and New Cooperation." The conference will spotlight pressing topics and build consensus on cooperation through nearly 50 sub-forums, roundtables and dialogues.

Kazakh student commends China's green tech shift from textbooks to everyday life