Tianjin is an economic center in the Bohai Rim. Its overall urban development plan will give full play to the city as being an economic center and an industrial, foreign trade, science and technology base in the north of China. A three tier urban-suburban network will be built with the Haihe River as its axis, the downtown area as its center and the city proper and the coastal areas as its framework.

The development goals of Tianjin are:

⊕ To become a base for a modernized chemical industry concentrating on the New Coastal Area;

⊕ To become a flourishing trade and financial center in northern China;

⊕ To become an advanced city for science and education;

⊕ To become a key hub for sea, land and air transportation and an information port in north China.

Tianjin will strive to become a modern port city and an economic center of key importance in northern China.