China's west development symposium, as an important part of 2000's East-West Cooperation and Investment and Trade negotiation exchanges, will be called on April 5 in Xi'an.

Preparations for the symposium have been completed.

The 2000's East-West Cooperation and Investment and Trade negotiation exchanges, set from April 5-9 in Xi'an, will be jointly hosted by the State Trade and Economic Commission, China's Domestic Trade Bureau and 19 provinces including Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin and Shanxi. As an important part of the negotiation exchanges, the west development symposium with its aim to discuss the ways, policies and investment items in expediting western areas' economic development, will be called by the State Council Development Study Center and an Organizing Committee sponsoring the negotiation exchanges.

According to the Organizing Committee, preparations for the symposium have been started from last December as related news has been released to that end through the Internet.

Leaders from 11 concerned central ministries and commissions, including the State Development and Planning Commission, the State Trade and Economic Commission and the Ministry of Communications are going to make keynote speeches at the symposium. Representatives from 24 provinces, ethnic autonomous regions and cities especially those from 10 western provincial areas and cities will carry out important discussions on the issue of China's west development. In addition, some world-500-strong enterprises will also represent at this symposium.