Beijing eyes public-private partnerships for priority projects

BEIJING - The Beijing government is going to encourage the private sector to get involved in public-private partnerships to fund key projects in transportation, the environment and industry, the city's bureau of finance said on Sunday.

The construction of a railway and three inter-city roads, a forest for water conservation, and a steel plant in neighboring Hebei province are among the major projects.

The government is prioritizing schemes to reduce air pollution and traffic jams, and also needs investment to build the planned new municipal administrative center in suburban Tongzhou District, an official with the bureau said.