China will continue to promote development in the west with more investment and stronger policy support, said a senior official here Thursday.

More efforts will go to infrastructure construction and ecological protection, said Li Zibin, deputy director of the Office of the Leading Group for Western Region Development of the State Council, at a press conference Thursday.

The western region is weak in transport, water and energy resources and rural infrastructure. A breakthrough is expected to achieve within ten years in these aspects, said Li.

West China is notorious for its eroding environment. Future development will focus on replanting and protecting forests, returning pastures to grassland and preventing sandstorms, according to the official.

Li told a press conference that China is drafting a law regulating economic and social development in the west. By the end of this year, China will have invested a total of 80 billion yuan (US$9.66 billion) in another ten key projects in western region, said Li.

China has launched a series of key projects in western regions, which have been partly completed, including the west-to-east electricity transmission project, a pipeline for west-to-east natural gas, highway construction and the Qinghai-Tibet Railway project.

Li acknowledged that there are some constructions, including electric plants, coke refineries and cement factories, consumed unreasonable amounts of energy and brought about heavy pollution in west China.

"These problems will do great harm to our national economy if without any control," said Li.

In fact, the economically backward west China has witnessed strong growth this year, said Li. Each of the ten provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in west China -- excluding Guizhou and Tibet -- logged economic expansion rates of more than 12 percent in the first half of the year.

Li also showed his optimism about foreign direct investment in west China. The western regions are rich in energy, tourism and mineral resources. Its transport and telecommunications conditions are improving, said the official.

"These will give investors good returns and create a 'win-win' situation," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2004)