The State Council has approved a national territorial spatial plan for Xi'an, the capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, for the 2021-2035 period, according to an official reply released on Jan 22.

As per the reply, to strengthen the spatial foundation for safe development, by 2035, the total area of cultivated land in Xi'an should be no less than 2.0248 million mu, of which the protection area for permanent basic farmland should be at least 1.3528 million mu, and the red line area for ecological protection should be no less than 3,795.65 square kilometers.

Meanwhile, the control line of floods and earthquakes as well as the protection line of water bodies, history and culture should be clarified, the reply noted.

To build a territorial spatial system that supports the new development paradigm, the circular asked Xi'an to deeply integrate into the joint construction of the Belt and Road, actively participate in the building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and contribute to the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

In addition, it should lead the coordinated development of city groups in Guanzhong Plain, drive and deepen the economic cooperation among Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan provinces, and speed up the Xi'an-Xianyang integration.

The development and protection of territorial space will be systematically optimized, the reply added.

To that end, efforts will be made to accelerate the construction of an urban system with regional coordination and urban-rural integration. Coordinated development of the Xixian New Area should be promoted, and restoration of the Qinling Mountains ecological barrier and the Weihe River Basin should be strengthened, the replay said.

While ensuring the space demand of modern urban agriculture, priority will also be given to the space demand for the development of advanced manufacturing, high-tech industries and scientific and technological innovation industries.

In addition, the city will improve its functions as a railway and aviation hub,  optimize and improve the external and internal channels for multi-directional connectivity and multimodal transport with a safe, convenient, green and low-carbon comprehensive urban transport network.

The protection the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and Terra Cotta Warriors, the Red cultural heritage, and historic urban areas and neighborhoods should also be enhanced, the reply said.