BEIJING -- China's top economic planner announced on Wednesday that it is drawing up a plan for the coordinated

Shanghai FTZ sees more liberalization

Building Bohai Bay economic zone a challenge: Official

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the integrated development of an economic zone covering Beijing, neighboring Hebei Province and Tianjin Municipality in February.

The Beijing-centered circle is one of three economic growth poles in east China, and its progress will push forward the economic transformation and upgrading of the area surrounding the Bohai Sea, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said.

The NDRC said the draft will make use of the region's comparative advantages and bring about specific measures in infrastructure construction, industrial layout and innovation in the three areas.

It also vowed to strengthen ecological building practices and environmental protection, promote widely beneficial public services, and deepen reform and opening up. A mechanism for regional cooperation can also be expected in the plan.

The NDRC did not unveil when the plan will finally come out, saying it depends on the drafting progress.

The economic circle, lying in east China, is home to over 100 million people and boasts a combined GDP of over 6 trillion yuan (around $0.98 trillion) with a total area of 216,000 square km.