opened in Chongqing on June 8,2000, that western development needs new ideas, new thoughts and new ways. It must open new development means according to new conditions and the reality of the western regions while learning from the experiences of the east.

Chen said that the western development strategy is being carried out against the background that China is soon to enter the World Trade Organization and has accelerated its pace of integration with economic globalization. In developing the west, China must introduce new development means according to new conditions and the reality of the western regions while learning from the experiences of the east. Meanwhile, it must rely a great deal on the high-density natural resources in the west while trying to avoid destruction of the environment and over-consumption of resources.

For these purposes, it is needed to grasp the following eight principles in implementing the western development strategy: Unswervingly follow the road of sustainable development; step up the change of ideas, greatly promote system innovation and try to create a vigorous soft environment; find major points in development and choose the areas with ready conditions to make a breakthrough; pool our strength to enforce infrastructure construction; look on talented people as the foundation of construction and give priority to the development of education; while developing high-tech industries, pay attention to the reform of traditional industries by means of advanced and practical technology; abide by the basic economic system at the initial stage of socialism and loosen the grip on developing non-publicly-owned economies; and accelerate the urbanization process and promote modernization construction in agriculture.

Chen also pointed out that the local governments in the west should give full play to the basic role of the market mechanism in allocating resources. They should draw up scientific planning according to sustainable development and the principle of efficiency. Also, by using favorable policies and capital from the central government, they should accelerate change of ideas and promote system innovation, study and draw up a development strategy in accordance with practice, and try to realize a great leap forward.

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