III. Major Tasks for 2016

The year 2016 marks the opening of the 13th Five-Year Plan and is crucial for structural reforms. The value of advancing economic and social progress is significant. Over the past year, all citizens of Beijing made joint efforts, rose to the challenges and achieved new progress in social and economic development. GRP is estimated to rise by 6.9%; general public budget revenue grew by 12.3% on a comparable basis; average incomes of urban and rural residents enjoyed a real growth of 7% and 7.1% respectively; the concentration of PM 2.5 dropped by 6.2%. We have done a good job in realizing the main targets set forth at the 3rd Plenary Session of the 14th Municipal People’s Congress, and laid a solid foundation for this year’s government work.

The general requirements for the work of the government this year are as follows: fully implementing the guidelines set forth by the 18th CPC National Congress, and by the 18th CPC Central Committee at its 3rd, 4th and 5th Plenary Sessions; thoroughly studying and seeking guidance from the series of important speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping and implementing his important instructions with regard to the tasks of Beijing; earnestly implementing the guidelines set forth at the Central Economic Work Conference and the Central Urban Work Conference; following the overall plan of “Five in One” (economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress as one integrated initiative) and the Four Pronged Comprehensive Strategy; firmly establishing and practicing the concepts of innovative, coordinated, green, open and inclusive development; adapting to the economic “new normal”; adhering to reform and opening-up and the policy line of seeking progress while maintaining stability; striving to stabilize growth, restructure the economy, improve people’s wellbeing and prevent risks; quickening the pace of easing non-core functions, transforming the growth mode, improving the environment, stop gaps and promoting synergetic development; making full efforts to enhance structural reforms; developing the economic structure based on “high-end, precision and sophisticated” technologies; maintaining economic operation within a reasonable range; and maintaining social harmony and stability of the capital, so as to get the 13th Five-Year Plan period off a good start.

In order to deliver a good performance in this year's economic and social development, we will focus on the following areas:

First, we must be committed to the concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open and inclusive development. We will mainstream this concept in the entire process and in all aspects of economic and social development; guide the transformation of development models with renewed development concepts, and thus improve development quality and efficiency; resolve developmental problems, foster development advantages, and enhance driving forces for development; and strive to blaze a new path for development featuring improved quality, efficiency, equity and sustainability.

Second, we must adapt to, clearly understand and guide the “new normal”. We must focus on innovation for development, give full play to the capital's advantage in scientific and intellectual resources, quicken the pace of establishing the economic structure based on “high-end, precision and sophisticated” technologies, vigorously create new momentums for development, and effectively improve development quality and efficiency while maintaining a medium-high growth rate.

Third, we must focus on structural reform. We will let the market play a decisive role in resource allocation; give better play to the governmental role; strengthen structural reform on the supply side while moderately expanding the total demand, so as to improve quality and efficiency of the supply system; and develop a new situation in which consumption and supply interact positively and demand and industries are upgraded simultaneously.

Fourth, we must strive to improve our work in city development. We will fulfill the "Five Coordination" requirements; gain a clear understanding of the patterns of mega-city development; transform the city's development mode; improve the system and capacity of city management; pool strength to resolve acute problems like “mega-city diseases”; and constantly improve the city's environment, quality of life and competitiveness.

Taking all factors into consideration, we set the following main targets for the city’s economic and social development: increasing GRP by 6.5%; increasing the general public finance budget revenue by over 6.5%; keeping the rise of the consumer price index at about 3.5%; keeping the registered urban unemployment rate under 3%; keeping the growth of disposable income of urban and rural residents at the same level as economic growth; reducing energy and water consumption and CO2 emissions per 10,000 yuan GRP by 3.5%, 3% and 4% respectively; lower the annual average concentration of PM2.5 by about 5%.

To achieve these targets, we will focus on the following work:

1. Promoting Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Synergetic Development

We will prioritize Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Synergetic Development in the government work; earnestly implement the Framework Plan for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Synergetic Development and the Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region during the 13th Five-Year Plan Period, so as to realize the goals set for this year.

Easing the non-capital functions in an orderly manner. We will strictly implement the catalogue of prohibited and restricted new additional industries 2015 edition; formulate and implement plans to ease four types of non-capital functions, including functions related to industries, market places, public service and administrative institutions; shut down 300 enterprises in general manufacturing or causing pollution; continue to push ahead with the relocation and upgrading of regional specialized markets; and facilitate the relocation of certain municipal universities and hospitals. We will implement demonstration projects for easing non-capital functions; establish regionally differentiated pricing mechanisms for public services and resource-based products; create a mechanism that links fiscal transfer payment with the implementation of defined functions, with the undertaking of functions and with the implementation of population control policy, so as to accelerate the function-easing process.

Driving synergetic development by breakthroughs in three priority areas. We will earnestly implement the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei synergetic transportation development plan and accelerate the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, the Beijing-Tangshan Intercity Railway, the Beijing-Taipei Expressway, and the Yanqing-Chongli Expressway. We will continue to carry out the Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project and the Taihang Mountain Afforestation Project, add another 100,000 mu (6,667 hectares) to the Beijing-Hebei watershed protection forest, and continue to manage trans-regional rivers such as Yongding River, Chaobai River and Juma River. We will make efforts to build the "4+N" function-undertaking platform (four strategic functional zones plus several cooperation platforms), accelerate the construction of major projects like the second phase relocation of the Shougang Jingtang Group to Caofeidian, work hard to build the Tianjin Binhai-Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, and encourage green industry projects to settle at Zhangjiakou-Chengde Ecological Function Zone. We will launch construction of the peripheral transportation system and other municipal supporting facilities for the new airport, support the accelerated development of surrounding villages, and help implement the new airport economic zone plan.

Developing the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei community for collaborative innovation. We will implement the Pilot Plan for Comprehensive Innovation Reform in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region; carry out collaborative reform projects in relation to intellectual property, talent flow, incentive mechanisms and market access; and set up a demonstrative regional reform and innovation platform. We will set up a group of regional strategic alliances for industrial technology innovation and promote the open access to and sharing of resources for innovation. We will carry out collaborative innovation projects on a scientific Winter Olympic Games, on ecological security, and on wellbeing enhancement; we will join hands for developing and integrated application of key technologies. We will make good use of the Zhongguancun Investment Fund for Synergetic Innovation; accelerate the building of Zhangbei Cloud Computing Industrial Base and other scientific parks, so as to develop a chain of scientific innovation parks.

Taking solid steps in poverty alleviation and one-on-one assistance. We will earnestly follow guidance from the Central Conference on Poverty Alleviation and Development, quicken steps to formulate implementation plans on one-on-one assistance to impoverished areas in Hebei Province, make arrangements for one-on-one assistance by relevant districts, and help poverty-stricken counties improve working and living conditions. We will continue to provide aid to Xinjiang, Tibet and Qinghai; carry out aid projects in industrial development and education; accomplish the annual task of Beijing’s one-on-one assistance to Inner Mongolia, and do a good job in one-on-one collaboration with the water catchment areas of the South-North Water Diversion Project. We will study and explore the mechanism to coordinate the cooperation and development of Bohai Rim areas, and fulfill important tasks in six aspects including major trans-regional infrastructure constructions. We will firmly implement the central government’s opinions on fully revitalizing old industrial bases in Northeast China and actively promote regional cooperation and development.

Making full preparations for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. We are committed to a green, inclusive, open and corruption-free Olympic Winter Games. We will formulate a master plan for the preparations, and work out a roadmap and timetable. We will complete the overall planning of venues and infrastructure, finalize plans for the bidding and designs of 10 newly-built venues, facilitate infrastructure development and launch market development of the Winter Games. At the same time, we will make good preparation for the Paralympic Winter Games. We will formulate opinions on accelerating winter sports development, make plans for the distribution of competitive winter sports in a scientific manner, so as to popularize winter sports and create an atmosphere where the whole society develops interest in, supports and participates in the Olympic Winter Games.

2. Deepening reform and opening-up on all fronts

We will focus on problems, identify key issues, take targeted actions, pay special attention to implementation, try to break the bottleneck to development through deeper reforms, and create more space for development through wider opening to the world.

Deepening reforms in administrative approval. We will further streamline administration and delegate powers, balance decentralization with proper management, and improve service. We will work to coordinate and implement the decisions of the central government to streamline administration, and improve the “powers list” and “responsibilities list” system. We will strengthen on-going and ex post supervision; accelerate the establishment of social creditability systems; and set up a coordinated supervision system that connects registration, administration approval and industrial management. We will deepen reforms of the company registration system, apply e-service to the entire process of business registration, and carry out pilot programs on a simplified procedure for deregistration of market entities.

Advancing key reforms in the economic sector. We will continue to push ahead with investment and funding system reforms, innovate in modes of investment operation, establish and improve a system for a reasonable return on investment, and encourage more non-governmental investments. We will deepen the reform of the budget management system, optimize the balanced transfer payment policies, develop a mechanism for coordinated management of large special funds, and strengthen the ceiling management for government debts. We will further rationalize heating prices and take differentiated measures to adjust water and electricity prices in different regions. We will improve the systems for SOE reforms, and make every effort for the piloting work such as the investment of state capital and the restructuring of operating corporations, and advance restructuring and “holistic IPO” of national Grade I enterprises; we will develop mixed-ownership economy in an active and prudent manner. We will fully implement the regulations for promoting development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), improve the network of SME service platforms, and support the development of non-public sectors.

Opening wider to the outside world. We will reinforce the capital’s international exchange function and establish regular mechanisms for providing services to major events. We will take an active part in the Belt & Road Initiative, promote cooperation among en-route countries in capacity sharing and equipment manufacturing, and improve “docking mechanisms” with such platforms as the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund. We will deepen the comprehensive pilot of opening-up in service industry, roll out new pilot measures, improve the service sector facilitation system; and thus driving faster development of service industries such as science and technology, information, and tourism, improving the brand of “Beijing Service”, and striving to obtain experience that is replicable and transferable. We will make a success of the 4th China (Beijing) International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and expand trade in services in emerging areas such as communications, banking and culture. We will move faster in developing the demonstration base for foreign trade transformation and upgrading, as well as the demonstration zone for quality and safety of export products, and support enterprises with proprietary brands and intellectual property in increasing export. We will encourage enterprises to increase outbound investment, thus driving exports of equipment, technologies, standards and services. We will further streamline customs clearance to support development of the Beijing Tianzhu Free Trade Zone and Pinggu Mafang International Logistics Base to forge an all-dimensional system of port economy. We will expand economic and trade ties and cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao, and handle properly Taiwan affairs and overseas Chinese affairs.

3. Promoting innovation-driven development

As innovation is the primary driving force for development, we will further implement the innovation-driven development strategy, accelerate the building of the national science and technology innovation center and shape an economic structure based on high-end, precision and sophisticated technologies, in order to grow with better quality and higher efficiency.

Reinforcing the pioneering role of Z-Park in innovation. To forge an important base for the nation’s indigenous innovation and a major source of primary innovation, we will deepen the institutional reform in science and technology, and unleash the potentials in three aspects: corporate innovation, innovation by research institutes and institutions of high learning, as well as commercialization of scientific achievements. First, we will advance reforms in experimentation and piloting. We will introduce pilot policies in support of Zhongguancun’s comprehensive innovation reform, and accelerate reforms in rights to use, dispose of and profit from technological advances. Second, we will optimize the distribution of innovators. We will improve the coordinated development of the “Z-Park and sub-parks”, explore new management and operation models for science parks, and further develop the Z-Park, Beijing Future Science Park and Huairou Science Park. Focusing on the Z-Park core area, we will develop to a high standard the Zhongguancun Avenue. Third, we will strengthen the principal position and dominant role of enterprises in innovation. We will formulate policies that encourage enterprises to invest more in R&D, carry out pilot projects of reforms and innovation by leading enterprises, and facilitate cooperation between large and small enterprises in innovation. We will support the development of such platforms as the Institute of Technovation and Zhongguancun Open Laboratory for greater collaborative innovation between central and local governments, the military and the civilian, and among institutions of higher learning. Fourth, we will enhance our primary innovation capabilities. We will fully implement the Action Plan for Technological Innovation, work faster to implement 12 municipal-level key science and technology projects, and support various innovators in undertaking major national innovation tasks, in an attempt to make breakthroughs in core, key and generic technologies. We will improve the incentive mechanism for the application, commercialization and industrialization of scientific achievements.

Creating new engines of mass entrepreneurship and innovation. We will carry out the action plan for mass entrepreneurship and innovation and support mass innovation, mass outsourcing, mass assistance and mass funding. We will encourage the creation of innovative incubators featuring investment facilitation, training and counseling, and media extension services; and create distinctive maker-spaces. In line with the central government opinions on accelerating the development of a national technological and banking innovation center, we will offer a full range of banking services for science and technology enterprises. We will unveil a comprehensive pilot scheme for Internet banking in Zhongguancun, pilot equity mass-funding, and step up regulation on Internet banking. We will deepen reforms in Zhongguancun’s talent management, improve the talent evaluation mechanism by setting up an evaluation system that prioritizes capability, performance and contributions, and accelerate the formation of an international hub for talents. We will encourage institutions of higher learning to create posts that specialize in the translation of technological advances into productivity; and support the entrepreneurship of faculty members and research fellows. We will strengthen IPR protection and advance standardization so as to foster an environment of fair competition for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Fostering new forces to drive domestic demand. We will develop a clear understanding of the five major tasks, namely reducing capacity, reducing inventory, de-leveraging, cutting costs, and stopping gaps. We will lay emphasis on the supply side structural reform, expand effective supply and create new demand through new supply. We will improve policies to boost green consumption such as increasing energy-saving and emission-reduction products, new energy vehicles, and organic farm produce. We will encourage the upgrading of information consumption terminals and expedite the development of information services such as mobile Internet and digital TV. We will better consumer services and provide all communities in the six urban districts with eight accessible services, including convenience stores, breakfast, and green groceries. We will provide diverse old-age and health care services so as to stimulate related consumption. We will implement plans to boost tourism consumption, improve the city's tourism products, including the cultural tour in the ancient capital and leisure tour in the suburbs, and attract more tourists from outside Beijing. We will secure effective investment, fill in gaps in infrastructure, and focus investment on such major areas as water environment, air quality, transport, run-down areas renovation and old-age care. We will work hard on the city’s priority projects, making sure that investments are well targeted. We will expand channels for raising funds and vigorously promote public-private-partnership (PPP) to actualize pilot projects.

Pushing for faster development of high-end industries. We will support innovation-driven development of the banking industry, implement the opinions on speeding up development of the modern insurance service industry, enable sound growth of the “new third board” (National Equities Exchange and Quotations/NEEQ) and “fourth board” (regional over-the-counter equity markets), and regulate and improve factor markets. We will expand our superiorities in information service industries, expedite the development of cloud computing platforms, and vigorously grow the big data industry. We will focus on services for R&D, IPR, inspection and certification, so as to expand the market for science and technology services. We will implement Beijing Platform of Action for “Made in China 2025”, make good use of the development fund for high-end, precision and sophisticated industries, and organize the implementation of eight special projects on emerging industries, in an attempt to make breakthroughs in such areas as new energy vehicles, integrated circuits, robots and 3D printing. We will transform manufacturing with green technologies and push for faster upgrading of traditional industries. We will thoroughly implement the "Internet Plus" initiative; and advance a number of demonstration projects in 15 priority areas such as urban transport, public security, and eco-environment. We will implement the strategy of integrated military-civilian development to promote the construction and development of related industrial parks. We will optimize the spatial distribution of high-end, precision and sophisticated industries, formulate a package of policies for redevelopment of underused industrial land, and enable intensive development of high-end functional zones such as the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area.

4. Accelerating coordinated urban-rural development

We will follow earnestly the guidance of the Central Conference on Urban Work, formulate the city’s master planning, effectuate the mechanism to manage and control all areas within Two Lines (the city’s growth boundary and the ecological red line) and Three Areas (areas within the ecological red line, buffer zones, and areas for intensive development), adjust and optimize functions of different districts, so as to create a new landscape of balanced and coordinated development.

Reconfiguring functions of old towns. We will strengthen high-end functions of the core area, such as providing services for political events, cultural and international exchanges. We will formulate stricter rules on the use of motor vehicles, population growth, and the size of enterprises and public service institutions, and move faster to phase out low-end industries. We will implement plans for infrastructure construction and environment improvement in the core area, and step up financial support for courtyard house renovation and environment remediation in the old town. We will optimize land-use structure in old towns and coordinate utilization of land reclaimed from relocation, increase green space while reducing population, and scale down construction and land-use intensity so as to prevent excessive concentration of functions and population.

Speeding up construction of the municipal administrative sub-center. We will highlight green and smart development, livability and cultural progress; balance business creation, employment, and residential functions; accelerate the development of an intensive development mode; and strive to construct the sub-center in keeping with national conditions and characteristics of our time. We will refine the planning scheme of the sub-center, move faster with construction of the kick-off area of the administrative zone, and ensure partial relocation of municipal administrative organs and public service institutions by 2017, thus facilitating the relocation of other administrative and public service entities. We will steadily build key supporting projects, improve transport networks, complete the Tongzhou Water Works, and step up construction of such facilities as the South-North Water Diversion Project Tongzhou Branch, supporting power grid and energy centers. We will specify and implement the plan for Universal Studios Beijing and comprehensively advance construction of its main projects. We will build, rebuild and expand a number of primary and middle schools, medical institutions as well as cultural and sports amenities to increase the supply of premium public services. We will advance water environment remediation, build city parks, wetlands and public green spaces, so as to improve the eco-environment and uplift city quality of the sub-center.

Increasing new towns’ capacity for relocated functions. We will develop new towns in Shunyi, Daxing, Changping and Fangshan, advance urban renewal and function improving, so as to receive functions and population transferred from the central city. Other new towns must accept fair shares of functions transferred from the central city, with a focus on attracting research, educational and medical institutions, so as to drive urbanization and integrated urban-rural development of the local area. We will do a good job in the country’s comprehensive pilot on new-type urbanization and the specialization of small towns; we will implement the three-year action plan for the development of peri-urban areas, carry forward the pilot project on urbanization in the “first greenbelt” area, advance the pilot on integrated urban-rural development in the “second greenbelt” area, and explore new models of reconstruction and development.

Deepening rural reforms. We will carry out the comprehensive plan on deepening rural reforms, pilot reforms on issuing shares to holders of collective assets, pilot market-based transaction of collectively-owned commercial construction land, reform state-owned forest farms, and determine and certify contracted operational rights in land. We will create a new-type agricultural operation system and develop diversified forms of agricultural businesses on an appropriate scale. We will speed up restructuring and transformation of agriculture and build a national demonstration zone for modern agriculture. We will step up efforts on the development of new rural communities, improve governance mechanism of villages, and hold the 10th village committee elections. We will advance the development of 300 beautiful villages, initiate projects for renovation and upgrading of six rural infrastructure networks; and complete upgrading of 56,000 rural houses for earthquake resistance and energy conservation. We will develop ecological service oriented valley economic belts; and relocate 7,687 rural residents living in precarious villages or houses in hilly areas. We will carry out the Third National Census on Agriculture in real earnest, and make preparations for the 2020 World Leisure Games.

5. Creating a new model of green development

In order to pursue green, low-carbon, and sustainable development, we will prioritize eco-conservation, improve the institutional framework for eco-civilization, and focus on salient problems plaguing eco- environment.

Constantly improving air quality. We will improve the mechanism for air pollution prevention and control accountability; revise contingency plans for heavy air pollution; focus on treating pollution caused by raw coal burning in rural areas, high-emission motor vehicles and pollution in peri-urban areas; and work with Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province, so as to consolidate our air quality control achievements. We will replace coal with clean energy for heating facilities in 400 villages and for boilers with a total capacity of some 3,000 tons of steam per hour. We will take 200,000 high-emission motor vehicles off the roads and increase the use of new energy vehicles in sectors including public transport, sanitation and postal service. We will carry forward environment remediation at peri-urban areas and close within two years all small, scattered, disorderly and polluting enterprises in the four southern districts. We will launch the Year of Air Pollution Law Enforcement campaign, establish and improve a monitoring network for air and environment quality, and crack down on violations of environment laws.

Focusing on water resource management. We will implement the most strict water resource management and comprehensively advance the building a water-saving city. We will manage water distribution and the operation of the South-North Water Diversion Project, expedite the construction of facilities such as the Huangcun Water Works, launch projects to improve safe drinking water supply to rural residents, and enhance the capacity to supply safe water. We will implement the work plan for water pollution prevention and control, carry out a new round of three-year action plans for construction of sewage treatment facilities, further redress direct sewage discharge, enhance capacity for sludge treatment, and prevent and control diffuse pollution from agriculture. We will strengthen the protection of water sources, adopt comprehensive measures to manage water systems such as Liangshui River and Qinghe River, clean up “dirty, messy and smelly” tributaries, and build 27 small watersheds featuring sound ecology. We will vigorously implement projects to harvest and utilize rainwater in an effort to build a “Sponge City”.

Increasing carrying capacity of the ecosystem. We will add another 400 hectares to the city's green space, and expand the coverage of parks and green spaces within a 500-meter radius of residential areas. We will add another 160,000 mu (10,667 hectares) of afforested areas, strengthen management and maintenance of afforested flatlands, and keep 600,000 mu (40,000 hectares) of mountainous forests under a healthy state. We will improve the system for paid use of ecological resources and ecological compensation, and advance the building of a national demonstration zone for eco-civilization. We will intensify efforts in soil pollution prevention and remediation; coordinate ecological conservation of mountains, forests, farmlands, rivers and lakes; and implement projects to protect and restore wetlands. We will expedite construction of key projects and supporting facilities for the International Horticultural Exhibition 2019, initiate work on investment and exhibition attraction as well as publicity and promotion, so as to promote the floral and green industries.

Saving, recycling and efficiently using resources. We will tighten resource management based on obligatory targets and control the use of energy and resources both in aggregate quantity and intensity. We will speed up the development of green, energy-saving and environment-friendly industries, and build resource recycling systems. We will manage energy consumption of public buildings based on a quota system and support the development of ultra energy efficient buildings. We will improve the system for sorting household waste and recycling reclaimable resources, strictly manage collection and transport of kitchen waste and construction debris, coordinate the construction of waste treatment facilities, and recycle 56% of household waste. We will encourage thriftiness and a green and low-carbon lifestyle to promote green development and green life.