中国西部开发, 也是世界的机会

Developing West China:A Global Opportunity

中国西部的社会发展明显落后于东部是历史现象,并延续至今,这种发展的不平衡主要是由于交通和自然条件的差异造成的。事实上,世界上许多国家,特别是疆域辽阔的大国都在相当程度上,存在着或存在过地区发展不平衡的问题。只有改变中国西部社会发展——特别是经济发展的落后状况,才能实现全中国经济的共同繁荣。人们都已认识到,现在时机已经成熟。 中国在近20年的经济发展中,东西部发展的差距变得更大了。于是在国外。

During China's economic development in the past 20 years, the gap between the east and the west is widening. Some people abroad believe that the Chinese Government only pays attention to the development of the east, which has causes the economic development in the western region to come to a still. This is a misunderstanding. In fact, the economic growth rate in the western region is relatively high with an annual average of 8.7% since 1979, compared with many countries and regions, only that it has not grown as fast as in the east which has a 12.8% growth rate.Against the background of preliminary development of China's national strength, it is possible for us to implement the strategy of 'large-scale development of the west'. In the past, the Chinese government has transferred a large amount of tax payment of the eastern region to the west through financial transfer payment. It starting this year it will increase infrastructure funds in the western region. Ten major projects have been started this year. The State will make investment of an unprecedented scale for infrastructure facilities in the west. Twenty airports started construction or expansion this year, but none of them are large project. The project of transmitting gas from Tarim in the weat to Shanghai in the east covering 4,200 km and having a gas transmission capacity of 12 billion cu m will be completed in two to three years.Besides large infrastructure investment by the Chinese government, the conditions for developing the western region are better than that for the eastern region 20 years ago.At present, the western regions attract more and more foreign investors. Large and mediumsized enterprises from home and abroad, including multinationals of the world top 500, are starting to settle down in the western region. According to a foreign investor who has invested over US$40 million, foreign investors are attracted to the west for it's great potential of a broad market as well as the cooperative spirit of local cooperators.Recently, US President Clinton made a speech entitled 'China's Opportunity, Our Opportunity' to advocate for PNTR status for China. I want to change it to 'China's development of the western region is an opportunity for China as well as for the world'.Your confidence plus our market and preferential policies is equal to our common wealth.