Five years after the West China development strategy was implemented annual GDP growths in China's minority regions (including five autonomous regions and Yunnan, Guizhou and Qinghai province) average 10.1 percent. Regional GDP has grown from the 841.1 billion yuan in 2000 to 1392.1 billion yuan in 2004. Per capita regional GDP has increased from 4,775 yuan to 7,582 yuan.

According to sources China has had five autonomous regions, 27 autonomous prefectures and 83 autonomous counties listed in its West China development strategy. Their total area has reached 5.94 million square kilometers. Another three autonomous prefectures are also treated according to the West China development policy.

For five years China has started 60 major construction projects in the west with the total investment reaching 850 billion yuan. Investment in fixed assets in the minority regions grows at an annual rate of 21.7 percent, totaling 2382.6 billion yuan. In the year 2004 industrial enterprises of scale in the regions realized profits of over 78 billion yuan. In 2004 financial revenues in the region reached more than 110 billion yuan. Per capita disposable income for the urban residents reached 7,962 yuan and per capita net income for the rural residents was 2,077 yuan.

By People's Daily Online