Xiongan New Area in Hebei province is expected to take off as the country's new growth engine. The area has been preparing for this expansion since its establishment was announced in April, with President Xi Jinping pledging to make people's interests among the top priorities when pushing for the area's development. Xi visited Anxin county in Xiongan on Feb 23 for an inspection tour before the announcement. "The area must let local residents benefit from the development of Xiongan and they should have an actual feeling of satisfaction," Xi said on the visit. The new area spans the counties of Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin, which have about 1.2 million residents. "We have maintained the people-centered development path because we are building the new area for the benefit of people, otherwise its development would have no significance," said Liu Baoling, executive deputy director of the administrative committee of Xiongan New Area. Liu said he spent the past few months figuring out how to bring genuine happiness to the people. The work paid off. Residents have become more supportive and active, after their initial surprise and concerns about their future. China announced on April 1 the decision to set up the Xiongan New Area to advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The move is a "major historic and strategic choice made by the Communist Party of China Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core", said a circular issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. If all goes according to plan, the area will become an innovative hub and home for Beijing's "non-capital" functions. Locals are now looking forward to the new area. "I know it's a good thing for us, but at first I was really worried about how farmers like me, who don't have much knowledge and skills, can make a living in such a high-end environment," said Zhang Baozeng, 60, a farmer from Zhongliu village in Anxin county. Residents are attending training projects, provided by the government for free, to gain skills. The government brought in training agencies in June to prepare residents for a diverse range of fields, from lawyers to tea-makers, Liu said. So far, more than 3,000 residents have been trained and about 10,000 will be trained by year's end. The area, about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing, eventually will cover 2,000 square kilometers and house 2 million to 2.5 million people. "I accompanied President Xi during his visit to the new area. I could feel he cared most about people's living," said Liu. Seven months after Xi's visit, there is no big change yet to the area's appearance, but it has undergone tremendous change in the population's state of mind. paper wristbandsrubber bracelets custom cheapcheap silicone wristbandscustom rubber bands
A flag-raising ceremony is held to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in Hongkong on Sunday morning. [Photo/Xinhua] Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said on Sunday she has even greater confidence in Hong Kong a year after taking office, thanks to strong support from the central government and joint efforts from different sectors. She made the remark to about 2,000 guests, including representatives of the central government and the SAR government, foreign diplomats in Hong Kong and local dignitaries, at a reception celebrating the 21st anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on Sunday morning after a flag-raising ceremony. Lam attributed her confidence to the central government's strong support and President Xi Jinping's care for Hong Kong. During his three-day inspection tour from June 29 to July 2 last year, marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the mainland, Xi expressed his cordial care for Hong Kong and gave four imperatives. Xi's visit created the exceptionally favorable ground for the current-term Hong Kong government to run the city in accordance with the law, assume a proactive role, develop the economy and improve people's livelihoods, Lam said. Over the past year, Hong Kong maintained robust economic growth, recording a 3.8 percent increase in real gross domestic product in 2017, followed by 4.7 percent in the first quarter of 2018. The unemployment rate dropped to a 20-year low of 2.8 percent. Lam and the SAR government's work and achievement during the past year was recognized by Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the SAR, who said at a separate event on Sunday that her first year was a good start. Wang said Lam and the SAR government managed the city in accordance with the law and implemented the one country, two systems principle by making full use of Hong Kong's unique competitiveness and actively joining the national development. Wong Kwok-kin, a Legislative Council member from the city's biggest labor union, said Lam is bold and resolute in building public trust in the government, improving the administrative-legislative relationship and fostering social cohesion. Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the city's largest political party, agreed with Wong. Lee noted that in the past year there was an increase in the number of bills and the amount of works funding passed by the Legislative Council. After assuming office, the chief executive has attended legislative meetings often to answer questions from lawmakers. Enhanced communication between the government and the legislature means greater efficiency, Lee said. Speaking of the government's work in the future, Lam emphasized the importance of engaging young people. The government has been providing young people with more opportunities to take up internships on the Chinese mainland for deeper understanding of national developments and to participate in the Hong Kong SAR's affairs. And Hong Kong youth today enjoy bright prospects and abundant opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. Young people should aspire to develop into a new generation with a sense of national identity, an affection for Hong Kong and an international perspective, who are also passionate about and committed to the well-being of the Hong Kong community, Lam said.
