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

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for 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, where he also chaired a symposium on further advancing the high-quality construction and development of the new area.

He emphasized the need to firmly uphold Xiong'an New Area's primary functional positioning as the major recipient of functions relieved from Beijing that are non-essential to its role as China's capital.

The new area should strengthen endogenous development momentum through reform and innovation, and unlock vitality via reasonable concentration of production factors and resources, Xi said.

On Monday morning, Xi arrived in Xiong'an and traveled by vehicle to inspect construction progress in the start-up zone. He then visited China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., which moved over 1,000 employees to Xiong'an in October 2025, and heard briefings on the company's relocation, industrial layout and innovative development.

At the company, he had a cordial exchange with representatives of officials and staff from relocated organizations already operating in the new area and those currently under construction, to learn about their life and work.

Xi also visited the Xiong'an campus of Beijing No. 4 High School, where he conversed with teachers and students in the classroom to learn about the teaching situation there. In the school canteen, he examined the dining environment and the variety of dishes available.

On Monday afternoon, Xi chaired the symposium and delivered an important speech. He acknowledged that important progress has been achieved in the construction and development of the Xiong'an New Area.

It has been fully proved that the CPC Central Committee's decision to develop the new area is entirely correct, and all related work has been solid and effective, he added.

Xi stressed efforts to relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as the national capital and integrate them into the new area in a more vigorous and orderly manner, and advance the construction of relocation projects for state-owned enterprises directly administered by the central government, universities and hospitals in an active, steady and phased manner.

Xi stressed systematic planning and the integrated advancement of high-quality development and efficient governance, urging efforts to improve the public service system, safeguard and enhance people's well-being, and actively explore future-oriented smart city management models.

Xiong'an must develop a modern industrial system suited to its realities, Xi said, noting that it should advance the high-standard development of a science park to accelerate the application of scientific and technological achievements.

The new area should cultivate clusters of emerging industries and industries of the future, pioneer the implementation of innovative policies in science and technology, finance and other fields, and create a market-oriented and law-based business environment that is up to international standards, he added.

Xi further urged the new area to strengthen Party leadership and Party building while firmly establishing and practicing a correct understanding of governance 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, who are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

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

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's political stunts both at home and abroad cannot whitewash Japan's World War II (WWII) aggression, but instead expose the schemes of the country's far-right forces to incite bloc confrontation and promote remilitarization, says a China Media Group commentary published on Sunday.

An edited English version of the commentary is as follows:

In recent days, Takaichi has faced fierce criticism both domestically and internationally.

Her political stunt of kneeling in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier to lay flowers at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra during her visit to Australia further exposed her multiple political calculations to the international community.

Choosing to kneel in front of a tomb in Australia, Takaichi was not regretting for Japan's aggression and atrocities during World War II.

This act not only reveals the distorted world outlook of Japanese politicians, but also exposes their attempts to mislead public opinion, whitewash the crimes of WWII aggression, instigate bloc confrontation, and push for military buildup.

From "fawning diplomacy" during her U.S. visit in March to the recent kneeling show during her visit to Australia in May, Takaichi has been trying to cultivate a friendly image towards the West.

Geopolitically speaking, Japan's far-right forces are trying to expand their military and breach from the restraints of the pacifist constitution by exaggerating external threats. To this end, they are making every effort to exploit geopolitical conflicts and draw neighboring countries, especially Western countries, into bloc confrontation.

Since the end of WWII, Japanese leaders have never apologized to the people of victim countries such as China, the Republic of Korea, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Many Japanese politicians have even tried every means to justify the war crimes.

In particular, Takaichi has questioned the 1995 Murayama Statement, denied the Nanjing Massacre, visited the notorious Yasukuni Shrine annually for many consecutive years, and revived military rank titles during WWII, such as "taisa."

On the issue of Japan's history of aggression, Takaichi's insidious move cannot deceive the world.

Takaichi's political stunts both at home and abroad are a provocation against WWII victim countries in Asia and other regions.

This cannot conceal Japan's remilitarization attempt or the reality that " neo-militarism" is spreading and becoming a threat.

All countries that have suffered from Japanese militarist aggression should remain highly vigilant and united, and work together to safeguard the outcomes of WWII victory, so that historical tragedies never repeat themselves.

Takaichi's political stunts cannot whitewash Japan's history of aggression, remilitarization attempt: commentary