Chinese Officials Outlines Keys of Western Region Development

China will take practical steps in the western region development this year to get a good start of the strategy, said an official in charge of the western region development here Friday.

Ning Jizhe, deputy director general of the Western Region Development Office of the State Council, said key areas have been outlined in the western region development strategy for the following five to ten years.

China will make marked progress in infrastructure construction, environmental protection, and developing economy with western characteristics as well as science and education, said Ning at a seminar on business opportunities of China's western region development.

He noted districts with fine economic basis, location advantages and dense population along the main traffic lines will be designated as key areas of the western region development.

A number of core cities will be first developed along the main traffic lines so that their adjacent areas will grow along with them, he said, adding that the western region development must be conducted in steps with key areas.

He pointed out that the western region development requires the study of new ideology, method and mechanism in accordance with the changing situation, in particularly formulating practical measures to accelerate the western region development.

Announcing the measures of infrastructure investment, Ning said the ten major infrastructure projects that are ripe for start-up will be launched this year.

The Chinese government will accomplish the investment of 32 billion yuan (3.86 billion U.S. dollars) to accelerate the pace of some 78 on-going large and medium infrastructure projects, he said.

Moreover, preparation will be made for some key projects, including the gas pipeline from Tarim Basin in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Shanghai in the east, the railway to Tibet and the construction of hydroelectricity power stations in the southwest, he said.



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