He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on media briefing on March 6, 2018. (Photo: People's Daily)

Xiongan New Area is an open door to the outside world and a standard of high-quality development, said He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) at the press conference on Tuesday in Beijing.

Xiongan New Area is under steady construction and will further open up and deepen reform, he added.

Aerial view of Xiongan New Area. (File photo)

The Xiongan New Area is under the direct oversight of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Established on April 1, 2017, the construction of Xiongan New Area is described as part of the "millennium strategy" to advance the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The Xiongan New Area aims to ease the population and environmental stress of Beijing. Most non-capital functioning institutions will be moved to the area.

The progress is steady, said He. The central government has selected talents to work for Xiongan, which is a good foundation for the development. What's more, Xiongan has organized 12 world-class design teams to work on the construction plan.

Infrastructure is the starting project. The intercity railway between Beijing and Xiongan started construction on Feb. 28, 2018. He stressed that the plan should be constructed in a very detailed way.

The formulation of Xiongan New Area should further strengthen people's understanding based on China's characteristics, including officers and public society.

NDRC and the Hebei government will formulate suggestions on how to proceed on the plan by following existing reform policies.

Xiongan is also treated as a model to build up quality systems which will be popularized nationwide.

Further discussion between China and the UK on Xiongan formulation could happen after the UK Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to China, said He. "London has experience."

China welcomes other countries who would like to participate to be involved in the Xiongan New Area formulation.