Ma Kai, minister of the National Development and Reform
Commission, said?on Saturday that the development of western
China is even more important as China moves to boost regional
development nationwide.
Ma made the remarks at a meeting in Xi'an, capital of northwest
China's Shaanxi Province, to offset suspicions that the country
will pay less attention to the west since it has gone all out to
develop different regional economies.
China will uphold the the western development strategy and
continue to support the region, Ma said, adding the development of
western China concerns lasting stability and durable peace, the
implementation of a scientific outlook of development and the
building of a socialist harmonious society.
China launched the western development strategy in 2000 to help
the relatively backward west catch up with the more prosperous
east.
The strategy involves 12 provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities, covering 6.85 million square kilometers and with a
population of about 367 million.
Thanks to the strategy, the combined GDP of western regions
reached 3.33 trillion yuan in 2005, compared with 1.66 trillion
yuan in 2000.
Ma said the central government will continue to support the
building of infrastructure of transportation, communication and in
rural areas, as 82 major projects have begun since 2000 with a
total investment of 1.1 trillion yuan.
However, he warned officials of western China against pursuing
economy at the cost of environment.
(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2007)