The Strategy for Large-Scale Development of Western China

Large-scale development of western China was a strategic decision by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council in implementing Deng Xiaoping's instructions on an issue of overriding importance: the development of both coastal and inland areas.

In September 1999, the 15th CPC Central Committee at its fourth plenary session agreed a strategy for large-scale development of western China. In January 2000, the State Council set up a leading group for western development. In October 2000, large-scale development of the western region was listed one of the CPC Central Committee's recommendations for drafting China's 10th Five-year Plan (2001-2005).

Overall development of the western region is a large project that can be divided into three phases: laying the foundations from 2001 to 2010; accelerating development from 2011 to 2030; modernization on all fronts from 2031 to 2050.

Development will be supported by infrastructure projects, while environmental protection is a priority. The economic structure will be adjusted and special industries developed. Scientific and technological progress and personnel training will provide an intelligent buttress, and reform and opening up the driving force. The goal is to achieve common prosperity for all the ethnic groups of the western region.

In January 2017, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the 13th Five-year Plan for the Large-scale Development of the Western Region, with the overall objectives of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, enhancing local economic strength and people's wellbeing, and improving ecological conservation.

In August 2019, the NDRC set the goal for 2025 in the General Plan for New Land-Sea Transit Routes for the Western Region. In May 2020, the central authorities urged efforts to create new large-scale, high-quality development along with eco-environmental protection.

The strategy covers six provinces, five autonomous regions and one municipality directly under the central government, which account for 71.4 percent of China's land territory. Due to natural, historical and social factors, these places have lagged behind the rest of the country in economic development. The strategy to develop the west and the determination to fuel the growth of central and western China are essential to promoting sustainable growth, coordinating development among regions, increasing ethnic solidarity and social stability, and consolidating the frontier areas.

西部大開(kāi)發(fā)戰(zhàn)略

西部大開(kāi)發(fā)是20世紀(jì)末21世紀(jì)初中共中央、國(guó)務(wù)院貫徹鄧小平關(guān)于中國(guó)現(xiàn)代化建設(shè)“兩個(gè)大局”思想作出的重大戰(zhàn)略決策。1999年9月，中共十五屆四中全會(huì)提出，國(guó)家要實(shí)施西部大開(kāi)發(fā)戰(zhàn)略。2000年1月，國(guó)務(wù)院成立西部地區(qū)開(kāi)發(fā)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)小組。2000年10月，中共十五屆五中全會(huì)通過(guò)《中共中央關(guān)于制定國(guó)民經(jīng)濟(jì)和社會(huì)發(fā)展第十個(gè)五年計(jì)劃的建議》，把實(shí)施西部大開(kāi)發(fā)、促進(jìn)地區(qū)協(xié)調(diào)發(fā)展作為一項(xiàng)戰(zhàn)略任務(wù)。

西部大開(kāi)發(fā)是一項(xiàng)規(guī)模宏大的系統(tǒng)工程，總體規(guī)劃劃分為三個(gè)階段：從2001年到2010年是奠定基礎(chǔ)階段，從2011年到2030年是加速發(fā)展階段，從2031年到2050年是全面推進(jìn)現(xiàn)代化階段。國(guó)家提出，西部開(kāi)發(fā)要以基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施建設(shè)為基礎(chǔ)，以生態(tài)環(huán)境保護(hù)為根本，以經(jīng)濟(jì)結(jié)構(gòu)調(diào)整、開(kāi)發(fā)特色產(chǎn)業(yè)為關(guān)鍵，以依靠科技進(jìn)步、培養(yǎng)人才為保障，以改革開(kāi)放為動(dòng)力，以繁榮經(jīng)濟(jì)、使各族人民共同富裕為出發(fā)點(diǎn)。

2017年1月，國(guó)家發(fā)展改革委印發(fā)《西部大開(kāi)發(fā)“十三五”規(guī)劃》，提出這一時(shí)期西部大開(kāi)發(fā)的總目標(biāo)是，到2020年如期全面建成小康社會(huì)，西部地區(qū)綜合經(jīng)濟(jì)實(shí)力、人民生活水平和質(zhì)量、生態(tài)環(huán)境狀況再上新臺(tái)階。2019年8月15日，國(guó)家發(fā)展改革委印發(fā)《西部陸海新通道總體規(guī)劃》，明確到2025年將基本建成西部陸海新通道。2020年5月，中共中央、國(guó)務(wù)院印發(fā)《關(guān)于新時(shí)代推進(jìn)西部大開(kāi)發(fā)形成新格局的指導(dǎo)意見(jiàn)》提出，推進(jìn)西部大開(kāi)發(fā)形成大保護(hù)、大開(kāi)放、高質(zhì)量發(fā)展的新格局。

西部大開(kāi)發(fā)的范圍包括中國(guó)12個(gè)省、自治區(qū)、直轄市，面積約占全國(guó)的71.4%。由于自然、歷史、社會(huì)等原因，西部地區(qū)經(jīng)濟(jì)社會(huì)發(fā)展相對(duì)落后。實(shí)施西部大開(kāi)發(fā)戰(zhàn)略、加快中西部地區(qū)發(fā)展，對(duì)于推動(dòng)國(guó)民經(jīng)濟(jì)持續(xù)增長(zhǎng)，促進(jìn)區(qū)域協(xié)調(diào)發(fā)展，加強(qiáng)民族團(tuán)結(jié)，維護(hù)社會(huì)穩(wěn)定和鞏固邊防具有重要意義。