China's Private Sector Urged to Turn WestChina's growing private sector should play an active role in the campaign to develop the resource-rich western regions, said Jing Shuping, chairman of the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce."Private companies should be generous but cautious and pay attention to environmental protection," Jing was quoted as saying. Their participation in the campaign should prove profitable because western regions offer good business opportunities for private investors, according to Jing, who is also vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The contribution of private entrepreneurs is vital because China will only be able to survive the increasingly tough competition brought by economic globalization "when its comprehensive power is strong enough," Jing said. The western regions targeted for development cover an area of 5. 4 million square kilometers and account for about 60 percent of the country's total land area. Twenty-three percent of China's population lives in these areas. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |