Cai Qi, secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, said the development of the Chinese capital will follow the guidance of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
He made the remarks during an interview with Xinhua News Agency ahead of China’s upcoming “two sessions,” the annual plenary sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Cai said the past five years was an extraordinary period in the history of Beijing's development. “General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered three important speeches on Beijing and profoundly expounded the major issue of what kind of a capital will be built and how we should realize it, pointing out the direction for us,” he said.
“In the past few years, we have always adhered to the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speeches on Beijing to promote the development of the capital. The profound transformation of Beijing has opened a new voyage for the capital's modernization construction.” he added.
Cai emphasized that the 19th CPC National Congress further clarified the goal of the "Two Centenary Goals." To be implemented in Beijing, it is to take the lead in building a well-off society in an all-round way and strive to build a capital of the great socialist country toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and a world-class capital with harmony and livability.
To strengthen the construction of "four centers"
Cai said that firmly establishing the strategic positioning of the capital, strengthening the construction of the "four centers" and raising the level of "four services" are the essence of the development of the capital and the role of the capital.
As the political center, Beijing should provide services and support the government activities in a broader spatial layout to create a safe and excellent administrative environment.
As the cultural center, Beijing should follow the guidance of the socialist core values and carry forward the tasks in protecting the city’s historical legacies and building the three cultural belts as well as two cultural service and industrial zones.
As the international exchange center, Beijing should plan for and strengthen its facilities and capacity building regarding international communication.
In terms of science and technology innovation, Beijing should build the Zhongguancun Science City, Huairou Science City, Future Science City and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. Zhongguancun Science Park should be further developed, helping the city to build into a science and technology innovation center with global influence.
Cai said Beijing's development depends on the development of its functions as the "four centers" and the "four services." The city relies on lean and innovative development.
“We must give full play to the leading role of science and technology innovation and implement the guidelines for the development of 10 highly sophisticated industries, including information technology, integrated circuits and artificial intelligence, and accelerate the development of modern service industries such as finance, science and technology, information, cultural and creative industries and business services, enhance the quality of life service industry, develop modern agriculture in urban areas, create new heights in the city’s development, and strive to build a modern economic system that’s compatible with its strategic positioning as the Chinese capital, as well as a modern economic system that’s harmonious, livable and in line with the goals of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the whole country.”
To work on three major tasks
Cai said that Beijing should focus its efforts on three major tasks. The first one is to implement the city’s development plan(2016-2035), which has been approved by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.
The second is to promote the coordinated development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, with the focus on relocating Beijing's non-capital functions. “We will continue to solve the prominent issues regarding the city’s population, resources and environment, enhance the living environment and the quality of urban development, and promote sustainable development.” Cai said. He also pledged the city would fully support the construction of the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province and build Beijing’s subsidiary administrative center. He added that breakthroughs would be made in traffic integration, ecological environment protection and industrial upgrading and relocating when deepening the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
The third task is to fully prepare for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. Cai said the city must uphold the green, shared, open and clean concept of holding the event, popularize ice and snow sports, in order to ensure the success of an extraordinary and remarkable Olympic event.
To fight "three major battles"
Cai said Beijing should take the lead in resolutely fighting the "three major battles." “We will strengthen risk monitoring in areas such as finance, local debts and the real estate market to keep the bottom line where systemic financial risks will not occur,” he said.
He also pledged efforts in poverty relief. He said Beijing is home to 726,000 low-income rural households whose income need to be raised. Meanwhile, the city is responsible for helping as much as 1.59 million poor residents in seven provinces and regions across the country.
Cai said Beijing must also win the battle of pollution prevention and control. The city’s PM2.5 concentration was reduced to 58 micrograms per cubic meter last year, and citizens were most pleased with the achievement. Beijing will continue to deal with air pollution more vigorously this year, Cai pledged. Meanwhile, the city will continue the work regarding its water, soil and rubbish, as well as carry out a new round of massive tree-planting work to further improve the capital’s environment.
To further deepen reform and opening up
As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up, Cai said Beijing will further promote the spirit of reform and innovation, deepen the supply-side structural reform, and ensure various reform measures to be implemented.
The city will intensify the reform in key areas, launch pragmatic measures tailored for Beijing and promote the reform with higher standards. The city will deepen the comprehensive pilot programs in further opening up the service industry, and explore experiences that are replicable and can be further promoted. It will implement plans that improve the city’s business environment, and strengthen the reforms in streamlining administration and delegating power to the lower levels, the combination of delegating power and strengthening regulation, as well as optimizing services. The city will further clarify its list of government power and motivate the vitality of various market entities. Also, as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Zhongguancun Science Park, the city will further push forward trial programs in Zhongguancun. Beijing will also promote the systematic and institutional innovations of Party-led management of communities and villages, so as to eventually solve the problems in grassroots administration.
To meet people's need for a better life
Cai said the changes in the top societal issues facing China are most obvious in Beijing. The most prominent one is people's needs for convenience, livability, diversity, fairness and security. Beijing will follow the requirements of the 19th CPC National Congress and further improve basic public services such as education, employment, social security, medical care and senior pensions to improve people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security.