China's State Council has recently approved the seven economic and technological development zones (ETDZs) in Hefei, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu, Kunming, Changsha and Guiyang to be state-level ones, in order to expedite the opening of these regions wider to the outside world..

According to concerned officials with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation, the seven zones consistently laid emphasis on industrial projects, the attraction of foreign investment, and exports, devoted their efforts to developing high technology and paid attention to avoiding redundant constructions. They have thus become the new points of economic growth. The upgrading of these development zones to "State-level" ones will play an active, promotional role in vigorously implementing the strategy for the large-scale development of the western regions, improving the investment environment, and perfecting the pattern of opening to the outside world.