Zeng Peiyan, minister in charge of the State Development Planning Commission, said in Beijing today that China will take substantial steps this year in carrying out the strategy of large-scale development of the western region.

The minister said that accelerated infrastructure development constitutes the foundation for large-scale growth of the western region. Development of water conservancy, communications, transportation, communications, radio and TV facilities will be accelerated to help transform the region's resource advantages into economic advantages.

He said ecological development and environmental protection are an important part of the efforts to develop the western region on a large scale. We will take comprehensive measures to return cultivated land to woodland or pastures and close hillsides to facilitate afforestation, providing local residents with grain as compensations and encouraging individuals to manage specific areas on contract.

In his report on the implementation of the 1999 plan and the Draft 2000 Plan for National Economic and Social Development at current session of the 9th NPC, he said this year the trial projects to return cultivated land to woodland or pastures will cover approximately 333,300 hectares and the area of restored woodlands will exceed 666,700 hectares.

He said, "in carrying out these projects, we will conduct thorough investigation and study, work out sound overall plans and take into account local conditions, following the objective laws and respecting the will of the farmers, so that measures and guidance can be tailored to individual local conditions." Zeng said that in developing the western region, we should not cling to the old systems and traditional growth patterns. We will apply new approaches, methods and mechanisms in line with the development of a socialist market economy and transformation of the pattern of economic growth, noting that "we will also be open- minded and realistic and make bold innovation and energetic exploration."

Each locality should capitalize on its own resources and advantages to develop economic sectors and industries which will have good market potential and local characteristics and give the locality a competitive edge, he said.

The minister said close attention will be paid to developing localized, water-saving and ecologically-friendly agriculture and tourism, he said.

The western region should get in step with the rapid progress made in science and technology in the world and truly rely on scientific and technological advances in promoting resource exploitation, industrial upgrading and environmental cleanup, he said.

Zeng said, "to accelerate the growth of the western region under the new circumstances, we will mainly depend on market forces to draw capital from a variety of sources to meet the enormous demand for capital."

The relevant policies will be further improved and efforts be made to improve the investment environment. Bolder measures will be taken to attract foreign capital and capital investment from the eastern region of the country, he continued.

Zeng further noted that developing the western region is a long- term arduous task requiring the hard work of several generations and he called on people from all sectors of society to enthusiastically and energetically support this endeavor. Large-scale development of the western region will provide markets, energy and raw and semi-finished materials for the further development of the eastern region and contribute to economic restructuring of the eastern region, he said. The minister also urged eastern region to seize the current historic opportunity to conscientiously make institutional and technological innovation, work hard to develop their export- oriented economy, accelerate industrial upgrading, strengthen cooperation with the central and western regions and increase their competitiveness in the international market. Moreover, he said, areas where conditions permit in the eastern region should take the lead in modernizing.