Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo calls for the active implementation of the strategy to speed up developing the less-developed western part of the country and for the overall advancement of economic and social development in the area.
The strategy of developing the western region is an important strategic decision made by the central leadership to hasten the development of local economy and strengthen the capabilities of local economy, said Wu, who is a Political Bureau member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
The vice-premier made these remarks during an inspection tour of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Qinghai province, both in northwestern China, from August 27-September 4.
During his tour, the ranking official visited the construction site of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway project and some other infrastructure projects, including a number of large factories, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
Wu urged local people to study assiduously Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin's important instructions and carry out policies laid down by central authorities. The construction of the cross-country gas piping project, the plateau railway project, and the cross-country power transmission project signify the beginning of a new, important period for the development of China's western region, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency Septembert 5, 2002)
