Vice-Premier calls for better developed western China

Chinese Vice-Premier Huang Ju has asked China's western region to speed up coordinated social and economic development so as to facilitate the country's major western development strategy.

"Development of the western area has entered an ascension period with very good opportunities," Huang said during an inspection tour of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from Jan. 1 to4.

He asked the people in Guangxi to use the opportunities of a free trade zone being built between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and strive to become an important distribution center for the zone.

"Guangxi should expand the handling capacity of its ports and improve their connections with railway and highway transport," said Huang.

China started the drive, targeting 12 underdeveloped western areas, in the beginning of 2000 to narrow the gap between these areas and the fast-growing east.

Major tasks of the drive include improving infrastructure, beefing up ecological and environmental protection, and promoting all-round economic and social progress in these areas.

Huang made the Guangxi trip to research the study and enforce the guidelines of the Central Economic Conference. These include pushing forward reform and opening up, accelerating economic restructuring, and boosting employment and social security.

Source: Xinhua