¡¡¡¡BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhuanet) -- China will increase its input in the less-developed western areas and adopt more measures to promote the development of these areas, said Vice Minister of the State Development Planning Commission Wang Chunzheng.

¡¡¡¡Wang said Saturday at a press conference of the National People's Congress that over the past three years since the strategy of developing the west was launched, the targeted areas have had great changes in their infrastructure construction, biological environment and other aspects.

¡¡¡¡Last year economy grew 9.9 percent in the western regions, faster than the national average of 8 percent, the official said. Enditem