Cities in region pulling together

The Beijing Commission of Commerce will continue to accelerate the integration of the commercial sector in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.

Zhao Weidong, spokesman for the commission, said on Feb 17 that the authority will establish innovative supply, logistics and financing for agricultural products in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

"Logistics services in the area will be standardized," Zhao said.

According to the central government's plan for integrated development, Beijing has moved 302 markets and 51 logistics centers from the city during the past two years to focus more on the capital functions of Beijing.

Those markets and logistics centers will be settled in neighboring Hebei province.

In 2017, the commission will move another 120 markets and 38 logistics centers out of Beijing.

At the same time, the authority is encouraging local Beijing brands, such as supermarkets, convenience stores and traditional food companies, to set up branches or stores in Tianjin and Hebei.

So far, those companies from Beijing have set up 110 new stores in Tianjin and Hebei, and the number is increasing, the commission said.

The commission held several meetings among companies in the three areas in 2016, aiming to create a platform for cooperation.

Hebei announced 180 cooperative projects with a total investment of about 400 billion yuan ($58 billion) involving modern services, strategic emerging industries, high-end manufacturing and high-tech industries.

"We will break the boundary limitations, providing convenience and full services for companies to do business in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region," Zhao said.

Due to the government's encouragement, about 40 Beijing companies have signed agreements to set up branches or factories in Hebei's Cangzhou Biomedical Industrial Park.

In future, medical enterprises in Beijing will focus on product research and services, while the production base will go to nearby areas outside of the capital.