Strategy for large-scale development of western China
Large-scale development of western China was a strategic decision by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council in implementing Deng Xiaoping’s instructions on an issue of overriding importance: the development of both coastal and inland areas. In September 1999 the Fourth Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee agreed a strategy for large-scale development of western China. In January 2000, the State Council set up a leading group for western development.
Overall development can be divided into three phases: laying the foundations from 2001 to 2010; accelerating development from 2011 to 2030; modernization on all fronts from 2031 to 2050.
Development will be supported by infrastructure projects, while environmental protection is a priority. The economic structure will be adjusted and special industries developed. Scientific and technological progress and personnel training will provide an intelligent buttress, and reform and opening up the driving force. The goal is to achieve common prosperity for the people of all ethnic groups.
The strategy covers six provinces, five autonomous regions and one municipality directly under the central government, which account for 71.4 percent of China’s land territory. Due to natural, historical and social factors, these places have lagged behind the rest of the country in economic development. The strategy to develop the west and the determination to fuel the growth of central and western China are significant to expanding internal demand, promoting sustainable growth, coordinating regional development for common prosperity, increasing ethnic solidarity and social stability, and consolidating the frontier areas.
In early 2017, the State Council approved the 13th Five-year Plan for the Large-scale Development of the Western Region, with the overall objectives of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, enhancing local economic strength and people’s wellbeing, and improving ecological conservation. More specifically, the areas involved will have sustainable and sound economic growth, stronger capacity for innovation-driven development, substantial progress in transformation and upgrading, better infrastructure, substantive change of local environment, and better public services.
西部大开发战略
西部大开发是20世纪末21世纪初党中央、国务院贯彻邓小平关于中国现代化建设“两个大局”思想做出的重大战略决策。1999年9月，中共十五届四中全会提出：国家要实施西部大开发战略。2000年1月，国务院成立了西部地区开发领导小组。
西部大开发总体规划可划分为三个阶段：从2001年到2010年是奠定基础阶段，从2011到2030年是加速发展阶段，从2031年到2050年是全面推进现代化阶段。国家提出西部开发要以基础设施建设为基础，以生态环境保护为根本，以经济结构调整、开发特色产业为关键，以依靠科技进步、培养人才为保障，以改革开放为动力，以繁荣经济、使各族人民共同富裕为出发点。
西部大开发的范围包括中国12个省、自治区、直辖市，面积约占全国的71.4%。由于自然、历史、社会等原因，西部地区经济发展相对落后。实施西部大开发战略、加快中西部地区发展，对于扩大内需，推动国民经济持续增长，促进各地区经济协调发展，最终实现共同富裕，对于加强民族团结，维护社会稳定和巩固边防，具有十分重要的意义。
2017年初，国务院正式批复了《西部大开发“十三五”规划》，提出的总目标是，到2020年如期全面建成小康社会，西部地区综合经济实力、人民生活水平和质量、生态环境状况再上新台阶。具体目标包括经济持续健康发展、创新驱动发展能力显著增强、转型升级取得实质性进展、基础设施进一步完善、生态环境实质性改善、公共服务能力显著增强等6方面。