Company representative from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region demonstrated the water-saving equipment that has been used in 300,000 hectares of cropland in the western China, at the ongoing 2004 Western Forum on China.

Priced at only one fifth of drip and sprinkle irrigation system in developed nations, the Tianye drip irrigation system invented by Xinjiang Tianye Group uses have save an enormous amount of water.

Tianye is only one of the numerous western companies that embrace new technology to pursue high-efficiency and low-pollution in China's vast western regions.

"Many Chinese western companies have sought development through exploiting natural resources, like coal and oil. The blind pursuit of economic interest, nevertheless, has resulted in water pollution and land desertification acknowledged Prof. Hu Zhenqi with the China University of Mining and Technology.

But things are turning around, Wang Chunzheng, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, said. Many local government officials are becoming increasingly aware of the environment protection and are seeking new ways of industrialization.

He said he hoped that China would go on giving preferential policies to the west to encourage the growth of water-saving, land-saving industries with sophisticated, new technology.