China Western Forum to Be HeldPreparations are well underway for the second international forum on the development of China's western region, slated for September 4-6 in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest China, sources said Wednesday.According to an official of the organizing committee, the forum is expected to attract 300 to 500 Chinese and overseas participants, including ranking government officials, business magnates of the Fortune 500, diplomats, leaders of major Chinese enterprises and economists. The forum will focus on the investment environment and the opening up of China's west, with an aim to help the international community to have a better understanding about the policies on the development of western China and the local situation. Major topics for discussion at the forum include infrastructure construction, ecological environment protection and fund supply, market changes and countermeasures upon China's WTO entry, and system innovation. The forum is jointly organized by the Office of the Leading Group for Western Region Development and the Information Office of the State Council, the State Development and Planning Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government. The first forum on developing China's western region was held in May last year in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province in southwest China. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |