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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao addresses a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair and the Second West China International Cooperation Forum in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 16, 2009.(Xinhua/Li Xueren)
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CHENGDU, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday that China had made great achievements in developing its western region in the last 10 years and it would unswervingly stick to the West Development Strategy adopted in 2000.
Wen also said the government was willing to continue cooperating with other economies in promoting the development.
Wen made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair and the Second West China International Cooperation Forum in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.
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Timor Leste's Prime Minister Jose Alexandre Xanana Gusmao, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, Cote d'Ivoire Prime Minister Soro Kigbafori Guillaume and Kenya Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga (from L to R) pose for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 10th Western China International Economy and Trade Fair and the Second Western China Forum on International Cooperation in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 16, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
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"Since last year, China's western regions have suffered the double blow of a big natural disaster and the global economic crisis. In a basket of measures to cope with the economic crisis, China continues unswervingly to push forward with the West Development Strategy," he said.
More than 43 percent of investment allocated by the central government to expand domestic demand and fight the financial crisis had been used for projects to improve living standards, infrastructure projects, post-disaster reconstruction and technological innovation in western regions, he said.
In the wake of the financial crisis, China rolled out an economic stimulus package with a 4 trillion yuan investment plan in 2009 and 2010 to finance massive projects nationwide.
In the first half, total gross domestic product in the western region achieved an annualized growth rate of 11.8 percent, he added. Nationally, the economy expanded 7.1 percent over the same period.
The West Development Strategy is a policy adopted by the Chinese government in January 2000 to help underdeveloped western region catch up with the more prosperous eastern region.
The 12 western provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have a combined population of about 370 million. They include Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, which were badly hit by the 8.0-magnitude earthquake on May 12 last year.
In the last 10 years, the central government had financed more than 3.5 trillion yuan (512.4 billion U.S. dollars) to support development of the western region, Wen said.
This year alone, China planned to invest 468.9 billion yuan in projects to boost development of the western region, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Monday.
During the nine years from 2000 to 2008, GDP of the western region jumped from 1.66 trillion yuan to 5.82 trillion yuan, at an annual average growth rate of 11.7 percent, said Wen.
More than 9.54 million rural residents had been lifted from poverty in the western region since 1999, and the country would mark the 10th anniversary of the strategy next January, he said.
The government was outlining new policies to support the West Development Strategy in the next 10 years.
Wen presented a four-point proposal for more cooperation with 14 countries neighboring the western region in such sectors as energy and transportation, trade and investment as well as energy saving and environmental protection.
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 16, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
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The opening ceremony was also attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cote d'Ivoire Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmaoand Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
Following Wen, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen also spoke at the opening ceremony.
The five-day fair, also known as West China Expo, is co-sponsored by departments of the central government and 12 western provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.
Initiated in 2000, the annual State-level economic event has become a key platform for trade expansion, investment promotion, regional cooperation and diplomatic exchange.
The 10th West China Expo boasts more than 10,000 exhibition booths. Up to 50,000 delegates from 55 countries and regions, 36 Chinese provinces and cities, as well as the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps will participate at the fair, according to the organizer.
China to input 468.9 bln yuan for West Development in 2009
BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- China plans to invest 468.9 billion yuan (68.65 billion U.S. dollars) in projects to boost the development of the country's western region in 2009, said the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Monday.
The investment will go to 18 projects, including railways, express ways, hydropower stations, shipping hubs, water control projects and airports.Full story
China's Xinjiang orders businesses to recruit more locals
URUMQI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Businesses in China's far western Xinjiang region are now required to hire at least half of their new employees from among local residents, according to a government policy issued Wednesday.
All the companies registered in Xinjiang and those who take up projects in the region, are subject to the new policy.Full story
China's interior West to have greater rail access to sea trade
NANNING, Sept.4 (Xinhua) -- Investors in China's western interior will no longer have to make detours to eastern and southern coasts for imports or exports as a railways network will allow them easier access to local sea port in Beibu Bay in six years, says the local railway authority.
The ongoing railway expansion consists of four regional trunk lines: Lanzhou-Urumqi, Lanzhou-Chongqing, Guiyang-Chongqing and Huangtong-Baise railways. The network passes through 12 provinces from north to south in the western region, Nanning Railway Bureau director Chen Baoshi said on Friday.Full story
