Premier Wen says China will continue to develop western region
- Source: Xinhua
- [14:03 October 16 2009]
- Comments
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)
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 Tenth Western China International Economy and Trade Fair and the Second West China International Cooperation Forum in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province
"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 has 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, featuring 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 regions achieved an annualized growth rate of 11.8 percent, he added. Nationally, the economy expanded 7.1 percent over the same period.
