Primary info from 2019 Hebei Government Work Report

Strengthening coordinated regional development

Hebei will strive to develop its coastal economy. It will integrate port resources, accelerate port transformation and upgrading, and promote the rational division of labor among the province's three major ports – Qinhuangdao, Tangshan and Huanghua ports. Qinhuangdao Port is expected to be constructed into an internationally renowned tourist port and a modern comprehensive trade port, while Tangshan Port is to be a hub for energy and raw materials, which are essential for major national strategies. Huanghua Port will be developed into a modern integrated service port, an international trading port, and a communicative hub along the BRI.

The province will enhance urban economic strength by integrating itself into the development of a world-class city cluster with the capital city – Beijing – as the core, and optimizing urban industrial distribution through developing the headquarters economy and introducing high-end enterprises in finance, science and technology, creative design, and settlement centers.

Measures will be carried out to strengthen the province's county economies, including implementing incentive fiscal policies and creating characteristic industries according to local conditions. It is hoped that by the end of 2019 there will be 34 counties in the province with annual GDP of more than 20 billion yuan.

The quality of new types of urbanization in the province needs to be improved. The province will strengthen construction of infrastructure, such as underground utility tunnels and the drainage and flood prevention facilities. Mechanisms for integrated urban and rural development will be improved to make the urbanization rate of the province's permanent population reach 57.6 percent by the end of 2019.

Ensuring and improving people's wellbeing

In 2019, the Hebei Provincial Government will create more than 850,000 new jobs in the province's urban areas and carry out vocational and technical training programs for over 400,000 person-times.

Two hundred standardized kindergartens will be built and expanded in the province. The renovation and expansion area of small rural schools and township boarding schools will total 500,000 square meters.

The province will also promote the reform of its endowment insurance system. It will raise the minimum standard of the subsistence allowance, and promote the direct settlement of cross-provincial hospital expenses. It will renovate and expand 100 home-based elderly care service centers.

In 2019, the province will also build more than 1,500 sports and fitness facilities in urban and rural areas to promote the "nationwide fitness program" and raise the level of competitive sports.

The modern public culture service system will be improved to carry forward and develop fine traditional Chinese culture. More than 10,000 performances will be organized at rural areas, communities and schools. Construction of libraries and cultural centers at the grassroots level will also be strengthened.

This English version is only for reference. To learn more, please refer to the authoritative Chinese version on Hebei.gov.cn.