Hebei province, in northern China, is putting a great deal of effort into two new growth regions – Caofeidian and Bohai -- which are expected to play a leading role in the province’s economic development. They will provide key support for the strong, harmonious growth of the province’s economy.

Hebei is situated around Beijing and Tianjin, in a core part of the Bohai area. It has a 487- kilometer coastline and has a unique opportunity for coastal economic growth. One of its major strategies is to follow the nation’s scientific development outlook, restructure its industries, change its development methods, and open more to the outside world.

It did indeed have some unprecedented opportunities in coastal development as part of a national strategy, when the Jing-Jin-Ji (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) economic zone was integrated with the capital economic zone as part of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). So, Hebei’s coastal development and construction work is now in the fast lane, with Caofeidian being changed from a little-known wasteland into a golden area and a solid foundation for new growth.

At the same time, Hebei faces some serious competition and challenges in developing its coastal economy. And, from a distance, its coastal region still appears to have lot of disadvantages when compared with two other vibrant economic zones on Bohai Bay – the city of Tianjin’s Binhai new region and Liaoning province to the northeast. Then there is the Yellow River Delta area and the previously barren Beidahuang area of Shandong province to the south. The two new regions also face some serious problems and challenges with their internal management, capital input, support facilities and industrial distribution.

To deal with these difficulties, Caofeidian and Bohai will start work on a recycling economy as a new industrialization path and build themselves into an exemplary scientific development region. They plan to use a cluster form to drive development with a radiating effect, while at the same time using the benefits of the spacious coastal region. So, it will transfer the province’s productive forces to the coast as a form of economic restructuring and developmental transformation as part of the all-important mission of being an exemplar in scientific development and a recycling economy.