China's top planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, has approved a plan to revive the northeast. The NDRC said that northeastern China -- a former manufacturing hub -- should recognize the importance of improving its local economies.

The region has been underperforming the rest of the country due to a talent drain and lack of private investment. The real GDP growth of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces in 2015 was minus 0.3 percent, 3.4 percent and 0.26 percent respectively.