The State Council has approved a national territorial spatial plan for Central China's Hubei province, for the 2021-2035 period, according to an official reply issued on Dec 5.

As per the reply, by 2035, the total area of cultivated land in Hubei should be no less than 69.2525 million mu, of which the protection area for permanent basic farmland should be at least 59.50 million mu, and the red line area for ecological protection should not be less than 37,358.99 square kilometers.

Hubei should be integrated into the joint construction of the Belt and Road initiative, actively serve major national strategies such as the development of the central region and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and promote the coordinated development of the urban cluster along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.

It is also asked to deepen cooperation with regions such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and actively align itself with the construction of the new land-sea corridor in western China.

The reply emphasized that efforts will be made to improve the level of agricultural modernization and grain production capabilities in areas such as Jianghan Plain, and plains and hills along the Yangtze River in eastern Hubei, actively develop modern urban agriculture in the Wuhan metropolitan area, and enhance the population and economic agglomeration capabilities of Xiangyang and Yichang.

Meanwhile, measures will be taken to promote urban development based on important transportation corridors, and ensure the space needs for the in-depth integrated development of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, to create a scientific and technological innovation highland with nationwide influence.

The reply also noted the strengthening of the overall protection and systematic utilization of cultural and natural heritages, and intensifying the protection of world heritage sites such as Shennongjia World Heritage Site, the Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains, and the Xianling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).