Central SOEs pledge to help build up Xiongan

Source: Xinhua | 2017-04-17

CHINA’S centrally administered state-owned enterprises have voiced support for Xiongan New Area in Hebei Province, pledging efforts to participate in its construction.

China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom said they would provide the area with advanced communication services, supported by innovation such as cloud computing, Big Data and e-commerce.

China Mobile and China Telecom will ensure that the Xiongan New Area is covered by a 5G network.

Wang Yupu, chairman of energy giant Sinopec, said the company will increase investment in geothermal energy in Hebei, and China National Petroleum Corp plans to focus on natural gas business in the region.

China National Offshore Oil Corp also promised a plentiful supply of clean energy to the region.

Other state companies, including China Guodian Corp and China Huaneng Group, also pledged to contribute to the construction of the new area.

The plan for Xiongan New Area was officially announced on April 1. The new area will span Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties in Hebei, eventually covering 2,000 square kilometers, with a population of 2 million to 2.5 million.

Chinese leaders hope the new area will help address the severe “urban ills” of traffic congestion and air pollution in Beijing, by curbing the capital’s population growth and moving non-capital functions out of Beijing.