China Daily (Hong Kong)

Policies launched to aid building of Binhai New City

- YU SONG / FOR CHINA DAILY By HU MEIDONG humeidong@chinadaily.com.cn

Fuzhou has launched a package of supporting policies to boost the ongoing constructi­on of its new district alongside the coastal line.

The new district, known as Binhai New City, will be built in Changle, a county-level city in Fuzhou, capital city of Fujian province.

“The developmen­t program of Binhai New City will play a leading role in transformi­ng and optimizing Fuzhou’s industries, and also in Fuzhou’s urban constructi­on and upgrade,” said Huang Zhongyong, executive deputy director of Binhai New City’s management committee.

Huang made the remarks at the inaugurati­on ceremony for the constructi­on of the new city on Feb 13.

Huang released the informatio­n about the first batch of fixed-asset investment projects in Binhai New City, which include 80 projects worth more than 200 billion yuan ($29.13 billion) in combined investment.

Sixty-nine of these projects will get underway in 2017, at a cost of more than 150 billion yuan, according to Huang.

The first of the fixed-asset investment projects concerns infrastruc­ture constructi­on, including land preparatio­n, upgrading the traffic system, as well as the water and electricit­y supply and public amenity services.

The main purpose of land preparatio­n is to serve the first stage of constructi­on of Binhai New City and Xiasha tourist holiday zone.

The local government will offer 900 hectares of land for the initial phase of Binhai New City, which will include land bought from local farmers and through the relocation of local residents, as well as land leveling.

For the traffic system, the government will “make efforts to build a multi-level, comprehens­ive transporta­tion system, which integrates highways, (overland) trains, subways, airports and harbors,” said Ruan Xiaoying, deputy mayor of Fuzhou.

“We will give full play to the advantages of modern transporta­tion in economic and social services, to create a modern transporta­tion network suitable for both residents and business logistics,” Ruan said.

Constructi­on work on three highways has already been completed, and a further three are currently under constructi­on. The completed projects include the six-lane Airport Expressway and the six-lane 316 National Highway that link Binhai and Fuzhou old town, as well as the four-lane 201 Provincial Highway that runs from north to south in Binhai New City.

Projects under constructi­on include the Changping Expressway, a 22-kilometer road that starts in Guhuaiqian­tang in Changle and ends in Songxia Port. It is designed as a two-way six-lane expressway that will eventually extend to the island county of Pingtan through a long cross-sea bridge, which is c urrently under constructi­on.

Constructi­on on another expressway that also starts from Guhuaiqian­tang, namely Changfu Expressway, began in December. It will connect

We will give full play to the advantages of modern transporta­tion in economic and social services. ” Ruan Xiaoying, deputy mayor of Fuzhou for infrastruc­ture and industries will get underway in 2017

Luolian, Longshan, Haikou, Longtian, Shangjing and ends in Fuqing. The total cost of the 41-km highway will reach 5.8 billion yuan.

The local government of Fuzhou has also drawn up plans for two highways to connect the city’s old town with Binhai New City. These two projects will cost 13.9 billion yuan in total.

In terms of railways constructi­on work, Fuping Railw a y, w h i c h w i l l c o n n e c t Fu z h o u R a i l w a y S t a t i o n , Changle county, Songxia Port and Pingtan Cross-Sea Bridge, will be opened in June 2019.

Subways are also an important part of Binhai’s overall developmen­t project. Subway Line 6, a 41-km subway that connec ts Fuzhou city center, Binhai New City, the old town district of Changle, and Fuzhou Changle Internatio­nal Airport will be opened before the end of 2020, according to Ruan.

In addition, Fuzhou Changle Internatio­nal Airport will build its second runway and new ancillary facilities. With a total investment of 18 billion yuan, the airport will be capable of serving 28.5 million passengers per year.

Besides transporta­tion facilities, Huang said the government will also build new sewage plants and pipelines, as well as new power substation­s to ensure a constant and high-quality supply of both water and electricit­y in Binhai New City.

The local government has also launched a number of public amenity constructi­on projects, which will result in new hotels, schools, hospitals and sanatorium­s.

To date, 32 companies specializi­ng in big data and virtual reality have based their operations in Binhai New City, according to Huang.

They include the 360 Industrial Park, and subsidiari­es by Inspur Group and Storm Video. These companies have brought in more than 70 billion yuan in total investment.

Ruan said the government will also launch more constructi­on projects, which will result in new harbors, natural gas supply facilities and residentia­l buildings, to ensure that Binhai New City develops in a way that benefits everyone.

 ??  ?? The East Lake in Changle offers a place for relaxation for locals and tourists as well.
The East Lake in Changle offers a place for relaxation for locals and tourists as well.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from China