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Development of W. China Is of International Significance
China's strategy of speeding up the development of its western areas, launched in the course of economic globalization, has profound significance on mankind.
According to the organizer of the 2000 Western Forum of China, the largest international event ever held in the region, it had received replies for participation from 66 of the top 500 corporations in the world and some 500 public figures. The scale of the forum is bigger than the '99 Fortune Global Forum held in Shanghai.
The forum was held at an occasion when China shifted from the planned to a market-oriented economy and is on the point of entering the World Trade Organization.
Zhao Qizheng, director of the Information Office of the State Council, said that the western development program offers an opportunity not only to the rest of China, but also to investors from other countries.
Former Australian Prime Minister Robert Hawke said, "What happens in China is not only significant for the people of China --more than 20 percent of the population on our planet -- but for our region and for the rest of the world."
Western China has abundant energy, mineral, land and tourism resources as well as a huge potential market. A quarter of China's population live in this part of the country.
The program of developing western areas will help narrow the gap between eastern and western China in terms of economic development and hasten the maturity of the Chinese market as a whole. The concept of open, fair and service oriented businesses will become the principal trend of governments and enterprises in the west.
"It will help China acquire a greater importance in the world and stimulate global economic growth," said a Chinese expert.
A senior official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlined the vital role of China's western development program in solving the problem of regional disparity, reducing poverty population and improving the ecological environment.
China's policymakers reiterated time and again, an important aspect of western development is to turn China's west into a beautiful and prosperous region. The scheme will benefit environmental improvement in both China and the world as well.
Despite the tremendous achievements China has made over the past two decades, the central and western parts of the country still lag behind in infrastructure construction. Border trade is carried out at a low level. Economically developed eastern areas maintain a dominance in China's economy.
The success of the current forum shows that the second golden economic belt is taking shape on China's western border, which is 3,500 kilometers, linking China with 14 countries.
According to a Chinese economist, this year is the best period for a decade-long world economic performance. A lasting worldwide economic growth is expected to come in the upcoming five to 10 years, providing a rare chance for developing western China.
In the new century, China will continue to expand its economy. A vigorous and prosperous China will bring greater benefits to the Chinese people and contribute a great deal to the world economy.
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