Regulations for promoting a new type of urbanization have been issued by the government of Hebei province. They stipulate a synchronized joint development program for Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei that aims to ease the burden on the capital.

Baoding city will take over from Beijing and Tianjin as an industrial center and will use its geographical position to set up an area which will take on some of Beijing's administrative institutions. The area will also accommodate the development of high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy projects, environmental protection and airport logistics industries.

Some of Beijing's universities, research institutes and medical and pension centers will also be relocated to Baoding. The local government has vowed to increase efforts to improve its urban environment to attract more businesses from the capital.