China's top law-maker said Tuesday in Beijing the western regions of the country need to find their respective development orientation and concentrate on some priority areas to achieve the goal of fast development.

Li Peng, chairman of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remark here when discussing with NPC deputies from northwestern China's Shaanxi Province the government work report delivered by Premier Zhu Rongji Sunday.

"To successfully implement the developing-the-west strategy, local areas need to have a clear knowledge of their own advantages and weaknesses first, plan well and conduct feasibility studies, and adopt concrete measures in that regard," Li said.

The central government initiated a strategy to prioritize its vast economically backward western areas for fast development. As a result, the topic of developing-the-west has become a hot topic in today's group discussion attended by deputies from Shaanxi, a province included in the new development program.

Li suggested that Shaanxi focus on developing new and hi-tech industries, bio-engineering and information projects, water-saving farming and horticulture.

Li said that, while support from the central government is important for implementing the developing-the-west strategy, hard work on the part of the local people is what really counts.

"People in Shaanxi should work arduously and rely on themselves to build a prosperous Shaanxi and achieve greater prosperity," Li said.