New Plan Sets Hope of Better Life in West ChinaPeople's living conditions in western China will be greatly improved in the next five to 10 years thanks to the launch of the western development programmes.In the next five years, the central and local governments will lay more emphasis on accelerating infrastructure construction, ecological protection, industrial restructuring and education in western regions, said Ning Jizhe, leader of the Comprehensive Planning Office under the State Development Planning Commission. With great development in science and technology, education, agriculture and industry, more breakthroughs in infrastructure and ecological construction are expected to be achieved, such as water efficiency construction projects and sandstorm treatment projects, he said. The commission has issued a special plan for the key areas of development in western regions of the country under the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05). According to the special plan, construction of road, railway, airport, natural gas pipeline and inland river transportation, diversion of gas and electricity from west to east, and building of petroleum and natural gas bases are top priorities in the next five years. Efforts on ecological protection are also hailed as one of the key action areas. Trial projects to return cultivated land to forest and pasture will be strengthened. The government has drafted special plans for a dozen key areas, including development of the western regions of China, accession to the World Trade Organization, transportation, energy, environmental protection, science and technology, information technology, education, high-tech industries, population, water conservancy and urbanization. Western China, which spans some 56 per cent of the nation's territory and covers 11 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, is known for its abundantenergy and mineral assets as well as rich agriculture and husbandry resources. However, the region has not enjoyed the same degree of prosperity as eastern China since the country launched its reform and opening-up policy in 1979. Despite its wealth of natural resources, the inland region has a weak industrial foundation. The country's ambitious "go west'' campaign forms part of the nation's 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05) which was launched this March at the Ninth National People's Congress, the country's top legislature body. |
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