The State Council has approved a national territorial spatial plan for Harbin, the capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, for the 2021-2035 period, according to an official reply issued on Dec 26.

As an international comprehensive transportation hub, Harbin holds significant importance as a major city in China's northeast region and a national historical and cultural city.

As per the reply, by 2035, the total area of cultivated land in Harbin should be no less than 35.7424 million mu, of which the protection area for permanent basic farmland should be at least 27.85 million mu, and the red line area for ecological protection should not be less than 10701.87 square kilometers.

The reply urged Harbin to deeply integrate into the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, actively participate in the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, and boost ties with the eastern coastal areas and Beijing-Tianjin–Hebei region.

Efforts should be made to accelerate the building of an urban system with regional coordination and urban-rural integration. In order to create a stable and suitable ecological system for black soil conservation, a holistic approach should be adopted to protect forests, wetlands and other ecological resources.

Priorities should be given to guarantee the space demand for the equipment manufacturing and sci-tech innovation industries and ice and snow economy, the reply said.

To build a comprehensive urban transport network that is safe, convenient, low-carbon and green, Harbin is asked to build an international aviation hub, enhance its function as a railway hub and improve external and internal channels with multi-directional connectivity and multimodal transport.

In addition, more measures should be taken to protect historical urban areas and the historical and cultural blocks, according to the reply.