accelerating the western development drive, we must meet the requirements of the socialist market economy, give full play to the role of the market economy and strengthen the government's macro-control. The western development drive is not a short-term task, and it needs the efforts of several generations, so the government must arouse, protect and give full play to the enthusiasm of people in all fields. In detailed work, the following principles must be observed."

"First, draw up an overall and scientific plan. We must start from real needs and possibilities; give overall consideration to the exploration, development and utilization of resources, infrastructure construction, industrial restructuring, ecological management and protection, and population distribution. We must make clear what should be done first, what should be done in the future and what needs joint construction, so as to avoid blindness in work and prevent repeated construction and ecological destruction. As to some big and important issues, profound and careful investigation and study must be done to make the planning more scientific and more practical.

Second, we must stress key projects and estimate our strength before acting. Financial and material strength must be collected to solve some key issues related to the overall situation of western development. One is the key development areas differentiated by region. The western region has a vast territory, so it cannot be developed in an all-round way. Some areas with little precipitation and bad ecological environment will not be developed. We should select some areas with a good economic basis to be growth points, and let them play a leading role in the overall development. The other is the key development sectors in the whole industry. We must bring into full play the role of resource advantages, and develop industries with special features.

Third, we must promote western development in a steady way. In developing the west, we must have the enthusiasm to work hard. Also, we should work scientifically to ensure the effectiveness of the work. We should divide the western development program into several stages, set goals and tasks at different stages and pursue them steadily.

In line with the overall planning of the Central Government, four things must be done this year for western development.

First, we must pay close attention to the overall planning of the western development program. This is the basis for the implementation of the strategy of western development. Provinces, municipalities and relevant departments of the State Council in the west should do a good job in the development and planning of different localities in line with the guiding thoughts of the Central Government and in combination with the provisions of the 10th Five-Year-Plan. On this basis, the State Planning Commission will draw up an overall plan for western development and submit it to the Central Government. This work must be finished by the end of the year.

Second, we must study and work out policies and measures to promote western development as soon as possible. Now all departments under the State Council are drawing up policies for western development. On this basis, the Leaders' Office for Western Development will coordinate and put forward practical policies and measures, and try to create a suitably favorable environment. In policy studies, attention should be paid not only to financial, taxation, investment, financing and price policies, but also to deepening reform, expanding development and promoting social progress, especially to the development of science and technology and education on a large scale and the recruiting of talented people.

Third, we must accelerate the infrastructure construction in the western regions. A larger proportion of newly issued national debt will be used in the west. The State will start 10 big projects in the western regions and accelerate the first-phase work of five infrastructure projects with good conditions, which can lead the western development. About 31 billion yuan will be invested to speed up the construction of large and medium-sized projects.

Fourth, we must strengthen ecological construction and protection. While continuing to pay attention to the protection of natural forests, the return of farmland to forests and grassland will also be pushed ahead. The experiences accumulated in this process will be summarized and promoted."