News Analysis: Development of China's Western Area Going On Smoothly

The development of China's vast western regions is going on smoothly since Chinese President Jiang Zemin put forward the strategy last June during a visit to Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The 10 western areas targeted for development are Shaanxi, Gansu and Qinghai provinces and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regions and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regions in the northwest, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, Chongqing Municipality and Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest.

By the end of 1999, the State Development Bank had granted a total of 400 billion yuan (48.19 billion US dollars) in loans to support the construction of railways, oil and natural gas fields, hydropower stations in these areas.

The opening of the Third Session of the Ninth National People's Congress in the Chinese capital city of Beijing in March further beat the drum for the campaign. During the meeting, Premier Zhu Rongji elaborated on the significance of the State policy, which was acclaimed by the media as a "major important decision" of the Chinese government in the new century.

The central government has decided that 70 percent of the State treasury bonds, as well as large sums of state appropriate funds and loans from foreign governments and international organizations will go to help the economic growth of the western regions.

In March, the initial stage of a gas pipeline aiming at carrying natural gas produced in western China to energy- consumpting eastern area began. The first phase of the project, the second largest infrastructure facility project following China 's Three Gorges Dam project, involves a total investment of 120 billion yuan (14.46 billion dollars).

Construction on nine other key projects in transportation, water control, ecological construction sectors in western China is also currently underway.

Forum on development of western China and various trade talks were held in these regions, including the Fourth China East-West Cooperation and Investment Trade Fair held in Xi'an in April and the ongoing international symposium on development of western China which opened Thursday in Chongqing.

Government sources said the State has stipulated various preferential policies to encourages foreign investment in the region. The World Bank is expected to issue one billion US dollars in loans to the area in the coming three years.

Thus far, of the world's top 500 enterprises, over 60 have invested in western China. Some countries have established consulate in the regions.

But sources concerned believed that the development of China's vast western area is a long and arduous task and needs the hard- working of several generations.



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