China unveils guideline on advancing western development in new era

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China issued a guideline on advancing the development of western regions in new era to promote coordinated regional development on Sunday.

Achieving western development in new era is of great practical and profound historical significance to completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and embarking on a journey to fully build a modern socialist China, according to the document issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

By 2020, the western regions as whole will see its ecological, business, opening-up and innovation environment to be substantially improved.

It will basically realize socialist modernization by 2035, with its public service level, infrastructure connectivity and people's living standard on par with the eastern regions, the document said.

In doing so, China will strive to promote high-quality development.

With winning the "three tough battles" as top priority, the country should consistently improve innovation capabilities, promote the building of a modern industrial system as well as optimize the supply and demand structure of power sources, the document said.

Efforts will also be made to bolster the integrated development of urban and rural areas, reinforce infrastructure building as well as safeguard the national security and social stability.

To further step up the opening-up in western regions, the document stressed following the guidance of jointly building the Belt and Road.

The country should strengthen the building of transport channels and opening-up platforms while developing an open economy at the high-level and expanding regional cooperation, the document said.

In the mean time, the document underlined enhancing ecological protection and deepening reforms in key areas of the western regions.

Green development should be accelerated in western regions and reforms on technology system should be actively pushed forward, it said.

Western regions must be committed to the people-centered approach, and give high priority to enhancing people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, the document noted.

Efforts should be made to strengthen public services for employment and entrepreneurship, support quality development of education and improve medical services.

The social security system, the old-age service system, public cultural and sports services as well as housing conditions should also be improved, while the capability of disaster prevention and mitigation and emergency management needs to be enhanced.

China will ramp up fiscal, taxation, financial, industrial as well as land policies to strengthen policy support and organizational guarantees for the western development, according to the document. Enditem