China will spend 150 million yuan (22 million U.S. dollars) on development in western regions this year.

The money will fund preliminary work on major projects of the "Go West" strategy in 12 western provincial-level regions and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a Tuesday statement.

China launched the strategy in 2000 to boost development in Chongqing, Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, and Xinjiang.

Under the strategy, western regions enjoy support in infrastructure construction, foreign investment, environmental protection, education and staff retention.

The State Council approved a 2016-2020 plan on the Go West strategy in late December.