AFTER decades of calls to develop Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei — or “Jing-Jin-Ji” in Chinese shorthand — as an integrated region, the government has finally created a draft report that may be formally announced in June, reports said yesterday.

    The integration would make Tianjin and Hebei “satellite” areas of Beijing. They will ease some of the capital’s load by hosting hospitals, businesses and government offices that will relocate from Beijing, which would in turn boost their economies.

    “The plan is subject for further modification before being handed in to the State Council,” or the country’s highest executive body, according to an expert who helped draft the report who was quoted by China Economic Weekly yesterday.

    Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei are often regarded as a single region due to their proximity, but a joint development initiative has been lacking.

    “The formal plan should be released in June,” the unnamed expert said.

    The integration would make the region better positioned to combat smog through cooperation and burden-sharing.

    Beijing is set to move major polluters and labor-intensive businesses to the neighboring areas. In the next three years, another 1,200 polluting factories will be relocated.

    Experts believe Langfang, a city in Hebei, located between Beijing and Tianjin, can be used as a “deputy center city” to bridge the integration.

    Another Hebei city, Baoding, is also tipped to become a satellite city, which could ease crowded Beijing’s burden by hosting some of the capital’s hospitals, education institutions and administrative offices. (SD-Agencies)