The Chinese leadership has urged all localities to take every opportunity in accelerating economic development in China's western regions. The call was made at a State Council meeting on developing China's western regions in Beijing from January 19-22.

Addressing the meeting, Premier Zhu Rongji analyzed the current favorable conditions and opportunities for China to further develop its western regions.

The "western campaign" will among other things, increase domestic consumption, improve social stability and narrow the gap between different regions.

Twenty years of reform and opening-up has laid a strong foundation and confidence for local and overseas investors to turn their attention to expanding China's west.

Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, State Councilors Ismail Amat and Wang Zhongyu were present at the meeting. Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao presided over the meeting, attended by ministry officials and local provincial government officials.

Speakers at the meeting said as China's entry into the WTO draws closer, China's western regions will become more accessible to overseas businessmen.

The meeting set five major tasks for the country in the current and future periods.

First, developing infrastructure projects such as highways, railways, airports, natural gas pipelines, water resources and telecommunications;

Second, protecting and improving the environment;

Third, adjusting industrial structures and expanding the tertiary industry, including tourism.

Fourth, developing undertakings of science, technology and education, and speeding up the cultivation of trained personnel; and

Fifth, making greater efforts in reform and opening up.

Speakers also said that developing the western regions is a major issue which concerns not only the western regions, but also the eastern regions and the whole country as well. The country should appropriately concentrate its financial power to support the western regions.

They also stressed the importance of enhancing unity among different ethnic groups, so as to ensure smooth development of the western regions.