Chinese central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan was cited Tuesday as saying the central bank will increase its financial support for the development of the country's western regions.

The central bank will offer more financial aid to the tourism industry and other service industries in the western regions of China, the People's Bank of China said in a statement on its website citing remarks Zhou made during his visit to the provinces of Qinghai and Gansu.

Zhou said the central bank will work to improve the financial environment of the western regions and make fundraising easier for small- and medium-sized businesses and farmers.

Greater efforts will be made to boost financial innovation and to support urbanization in western China, he added.