With the aim of creating balance between Beijing and neighboring cities, several prominent universities in Beijing will be transferred to Hebei province, according to policymakers. This move is meant to ease the pressure on the city's infrastructure and resources and to alleviate "urban malaise" like traffic, shortage of resources and air pollution.

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Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun explained that the capital will devise a strategy to relocate unimportant functions this year. He made this revelation during the yearly plenary sessions of the People's Congress and Political Consultative Conference. These functions allegedly include regional logistics bases and wholesale markets, government service providers, the general manufacturing industry and some of public services (such as medical and educational institutions).

The new relocation site Beidaihe is a coastal area approximately 300 kilometers away from the capital. Among the universities to be transferred are Beijing Film Academy and Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications. However, only their undergrad courses will be moved as postgraduate and research institutions will remain in Beijing.

Meanwhile, prestigious universities such as Tsinghua University and Beijing University will build research centers in Hebei province. 

Furthermore, some medical facilities will also be moved. Currently, there are approximately 50 hospitals in the city that have transferred to Hebei, constructed branches or deployed support staff for their hospitals in Hebei.

One of the city's major roles is technological innovation based on an integrated development plan of Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin. Under the new integrated development plan of Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin, the capital city will become not only a center for technological innovation but also the "national center of political, cultural and international exchange activities."

The plan seeks to make Tianjin the area for national research and development for advanced manufacturing and a shipping hub, while Hebei will concentrate on trade and logistics and serve as a testing field for industrial transition and upgrade. 

TagsBeijing, Beijing University, Tsinghua University, Hebei Province, Tianjen, Beijing Film Academy, Beidaihe