The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is planning to send outstanding scientists and technicians from across the country to the resource-abundant western region to carry out scientific research.

CAS vice-president Chen Yiyu revealed the plan during a recent visit to the Natural Resources Laboratory under construction in the southwestern province.

The laboratory, a joint cooperation project between CAS and Guizhou Province, is the embodiment of CAS's strengthened support to the government's strategy of developing the western areas, he said.

Scientists will study ways of protecting the ecological conditions in the western areas and conduct surveys of local natural resources.

CAS also plans to work with local universities to jointly train graduate students majoring in science, who will be sent to the laboratory in the next few years, he added.

When conditions mature, CAS will establish a graduate school in the province to help develop local herbal medicine industry and environmental protection industry, he added.

The Chinese Government has started a national campaign to develop the country's central and western areas which cover some 56 percent of China's territory and account for 50 percent of verified deposits of minerals.

Policies and measures, including tax incentives, increase of fixed-asset investment, and preferential terms for overseas investors, have been adopted to accelerate the development pace of the region. (Xinhua)