A senior Chinese official said Thursday in Beijing that China is drafting a law regulating measures andactivities in promoting the western region, both in economy and social development.

Li Zibin, deputy director of the Office of the Leading Group for Western Region Development of the State Council, said at a press conference organized by the State Council Information Officethat the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, or China's top legislative body, has listed the law drafting as its five-year law-making plan.

"We need to have a law regulating guiding policies, developmentstrategies, key missions and others concerning the western region development," said Li, who is also vice minister in charge of the State Development and Reform Commission.

He said his office has worked out the first draft of the law onpromotion for western region development, which is open to discussion and advice, and will soon submit it to the State Council Legislative Affairs Office.

Any draft law in China will be thrice run the gauntlets of top legislators, who convene bimonthly, before final approval.

Before boosting economy in underdeveloped regions, many developed countries usually drafted and adopted laws governing thedevelopment, Li said.