Jilin province carried out strategies for Northeast China's revitalization in 2007, including the plan to establish the Changchun-Jilin-Tumen Development and Opening-up Pilot Zone.

The plan gained support from the central government when the State Council gave an official reply in August 2009 to a document outlining planning for the Tumen River Region Cooperation Development Framework.

That made the construction of the pilot zone a national strategy.

In November 2013, the central government deployed strategies for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping.

This brought new opportunities for development of the Changchun-Jilin-Tumen region.

The Jilin provincial party committee and government were able to have areas in Jilin province included in the "One Belt, One Road" projects and decided to build the Changchun-Jilin Industrial Innovation and Development Demonstration Zone.

Frost covers trees in this spectacular winter view from Jilin. [Photos provided to China Daily]

Local governments aim to make the zone an important platform for further implementing the Changchun-Jilin-Tumen strategies and to seek support from "One Belt, One Road" projects.

On Feb 5, the Jilin provincial government issued approval for the overall strategy of the demonstration zone and began construction.

Changchun and Jilin cities are the most prosperous areas with the densest resources in Jilin province. Building the Changchun-Jilin demonstration zone will help the two cities unite and help promote Jilin province's comprehensive economic growth and competitiveness.

The demonstration zone is seated in the middle of the Changchun-Harbin megalopolis, one of the 20 key urban agglomerations in China.

It will facilitate economic integration in Northeast China with a coastal economic belt in Liaoning province, an economic circle in Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning, and the Harbin-Daqing-Tsitsihar industrial corridor in Heilongjiang province.