China to Focus on Western Region's Infrastructure, Environment

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 20, 2002

China to Focus on Western Region's Infrastructure, Environment

China's development strategy for its western region will focus on infrastructure construction and protection of the ecological environment in the year 2002. Joint efforts for the promotion of education, scientific research, technological development, agricultural production and tourism in the region are also needed.

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Key projects of infrastructure construction

China's development strategy for its western region will focus on infrastructure construction and protection of the ecological environment in the year 2002, a vital period for the project.

An official with the office in charge of western China development said here Tuesday that within the year, each county or prefecture in western China will construct at least one tarmac highway linking it with its respective provincial capital.

Meanwhile, a comprehensive electricity supply network and a radio-television broadcasting system will be constructed covering most counties and towns in the western region, the official told Xinhua, the country's national news agency.

In addition, 2.27 million hectares of farmland in western China will be returned to grassland and forest use. The year's afforestation project will also add a total forest area of 2.66 million hectares to the region.

Joint efforts for other sectors

The official also called for joint efforts for the promotion of education, scientific research, technological development, agricultural production and tourism in the region.

In 2000 and 2001, the fixed assets in western China's 12 provinces increased by 15 and 19 percent, respectively, higher than the average increase rate in the eastern coastal area of China.

China's Western Development Makes Good Start

The fixed asset investment growth rate for January-October last year for China's western regions has hit 23 percent, 5.6 percent higher than the country's average.

The state has invested over 70 billion yuan (8.48 billion US dollars) in the western regions, 43 billion yuan (5.21billion US dollars) of which comes from government bonds. >>details

Western Development Program Pays Off

The gross domestic product (GDP) of 12 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in western China increased by 8.7 percent in the first half of this year thanks to China's drive to accelerate western development.

Construction of 10 key projects began in western China last year at a combined cost of 20 billion yuan. More projects were begun to be built this year, which will cost about 300 billion yuan. >>details

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