Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Zhang. Now, the floor is open for questions. Please identify the news agency you represent before asking questions.

Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:

This year marks the 10th anniversary of implementing the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, a major national strategy. Can you elaborate on Tianjin's achievements in deepening and solidifying the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region? What measures will Tianjin take to promote the coordinated development of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as further expand the breadth and depth of cooperation among the three regions? Thank you.

Zhang Gong:

Thank you for your questions. I will address them now. This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy. Over the past decade, Tianjin has focused on implementing this significant national regional development strategy, actively pursued integrated development to enhance Tianjin's growth, and significantly advanced regional coordination and integrated development with Beijing.

In terms of achievements, consensus on coordinated development among the three regions has deepened over the past decade, not only among government departments but also in enterprises and markets. Meanwhile, integration between Beijing and Tianjin has progressively strengthened, with high-speed rail and expressways drastically reducing travel times between the regions and facilitating the seamless flow of people. This mobility has spurred cooperation across various aspects. Currently, about 70,000 to 80,000 people travel between Beijing and Tianjin daily via intercity high-speed railways. The number of people living in Tianjin who are working, conducting business, or spending weekends in Beijing for leisure and vacation is on the rise. Such exchanges and interactions are bound to create new opportunities for cooperation at various levels.

Practical cooperation across multiple fields continues to accumulate fruitful results. Economically, market-oriented cooperation is expanding in various aspects, such as industrial complementarity, logistics collaboration, service expansion, and energy security. Many central state-owned enterprises like CNOOC, Sinopec, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, China Unicom, and CHN Energy Investment Group have expanded their presence in Tianjin. In terms of technological innovation collaboration, the interaction and empowerment among parks, enterprises, and technology service providers across Tianjin, Beijing, and Hebei are continuously increasing. Examples include the Tiankai Higher Education Innovation Park and Zhongguancun. Entities like the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 360, Lenovo, and Zhongguancun Hardware Space Group Co., Ltd. are expanding their cooperative footprint in Tianjin. Regarding ecological governance, collaborative efforts in joint prevention, construction, and governance among the three regions are deepening in standards and measures. In terms of public services, measures like the direct settlement of medical expenses across the three regions, enhanced cooperation in public education, and the integration of social security cards have significantly eased the lives of residents in these areas and furthered city integration efforts.

Moving forward, we will make continuous and pragmatic efforts to expand cooperation among the three regions. We will proactively support relieving Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as China's capital, the development of Xiong'an New Area, and the construction of Beijing's sub-center, primarily in the following aspects:

First, our efforts will center on the development of city clusters, with an emphasis on enhancing soft connectivity through public services. We aim to boost cooperation in areas including education, healthcare, social insurance, elder care, culture, commerce, tourism, and transportation. By advocating for uniform standards in similar practices, we will make commuting and daily life more convenient for people in the three regions.

Second, in the coordination of scientific and technological innovation and the integration of industrial development, greater emphasis will be placed on nurturing the development of the technology service industry. We will leverage the unique role of market-oriented technology services in the application of technological advances and facilitate extensive collaboration within the technology service industry.

Third, in the process of actively helping relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as China's capital, attention will be paid to market-based allocation of resources and factors for talent introduction and cultivation. The government's macro planning guidance has been very clear and deeply ingrained in people's minds. Next, special attention will be paid to the follow-up of market-oriented resources. In particular, we will rely on Tianjin's scientific and educational resources, the policy space of the Binhai New Area, and Tianjin's own advantages in terms of public services and comprehensive costs. Efforts will be continuously made in market-oriented resource allocation, building mechanisms for sharing benefits, incentivizing the application of advances, and establishing market-oriented industrial supporting platforms.

Fourth, we will leverage the role of Tianjin Port as a shipping hub in northern China. In the process of advancing the integrated development of ports, industries, and cities, we will focus on cultivating and improving shipping services and functions, expanding domestic and international shipping routes compatible with regional industries, and optimizing smart custom clearance capabilities. We will make good use of policies in comprehensive bonded zones and free trade pilot zones, and enhance institutional openness.

The 10th anniversary marks a new starting point. We will take more pragmatic and precise measures, continuously seek breakthroughs in mechanisms, platforms, paths, and shared benefits, and better expand the depth and breadth of service to regional development. Thank you.