Zeng Peiyan, minister of the State Development Planning Commission, stressed that China will take serious measures to accelerate the development of the country 's western regions in the year 2000 while promoting development in the eastern and central areas.

Zeng said that development of China's western regions will focus on infrastructure facilities, ecological and environmental protection.

Zeng noted that China will stimulate extensive cooperation between the western and eastern regions and work out preferential policies to encourage more scientific and technological talent to work in the western regions.