(Photo: VCG)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, called for reform efforts in the building of Xiongan New Area and in deepening military-civilian integration.

Xi said China has made remarkable progress in institutional reform at the central and state level since the 18th CPC Central Committee and that it should carry on with more institutional reform and motivating officials at grassroots level.

He made the remarks at the third meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform on Friday.

The Xiongan New Area, a special economic zone located about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing, will be given greater autonomy, regarding innovation, smart city functions and public services, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The area should take advantage of the relocation of some of Beijing's "non-capital" functions and take a leading role in institutional reform, it said.  

The special economic zone, which will be of the same national significance as the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, aims to promote integration with the neighboring cities of Beijing and Tianjin.

The committee also urged more financial support in military-civilian integration. It asked financial departments at all levels to provide sufficient financial support in such areas as infrastructure, weaponry purchase, technology innovation in ocean, space, Internet, biotech as well as new energy.

Financial departments should prioritize work regarding resources allocation and fiscal stimulus, it added.

The central committee for deepening overall reform was transformed in March from the former central leading group for deepening overall reform, as an important step to improve the institutions and mechanisms by which the Party exercises leadership over major work.

Deputy heads of the committee Wang Huning and Han Zheng also attended the meeting.