The Chinese government is realistic in admitting that it cannot level the nation's inequality by 2050. However, it shoulders the responsibility of developing the west and improving lives there, narrowing the gap which would otherwise widen. While it is not the most encouraging message, one has to accept this realism, for many historical as well as geographical reasons.

As the west has been weak in economy, it persistently lacks a human resources pool. The west has lacked creative indigenous leadership, as the local leaders have been long isolated from a market economy environment. Second, its own young talents tend to be attempted by the east and even the exotic foreign world, and brain drain is phenomenal.

China's west is less accessible than the east. The Himalayan area is too high for people to survive let alone to flourish. China's western frontier such as Xinjiang and Tibet is completely blocked by the Eurasian continent: it meets India, Pakistan and Central Asian countries and doesn't have direct access to sea. Yunnan is connected to Indo-China before it has any chance to see the Indian Ocean. Though the Silk Road could be revived at modern time, such a transportation mode is inferior to China's eastern coast which borders directly the Pacific.

Prior to globalization, such natural geography offered national security to China. Central China and Tibet plateau prevented the country from being occupied by Japan completely in the past, and the Himalaya became a natural divide between China and India. During the "Cultural Revolution" (1966-76), China's strategic forces and modern industries were concentrated in Sichuan and Qinghai provinces for fear of Soviet aggression.

But at a peace time, especially during globalization, China's west is more a natural liability because of its inconvenient locality. The feature of globalization – flow of people, information and materials – is rendered less possible due to the geography. China's west still doesn't have as widespread highways or railway networks as in the east. Trade with the neighboring countries to the west of China is difficult as they are mostly in competition with the area. And as smart as China is, some of them don't feel the development of China's west could serve their national interests, as they wouldn't feel comfortable to see a strong China. So India would not encourage cross-border trade with China, but rather expect to expand trade tie with China through Shanghai. In a similar vein, the North Korea has lately refused to cooperate in Tumenjiang Development Project, which could extend China access to the sea, possibly for seeing no much overall gain from this collaboration.

The lack of human resources and inconvenient geography pose long-term challenge to China's western development strategy. Plus with the need to enhance education and preserve the environment, the challenges are daunting. The west may also feel perplexed for sharing its natural resources with the rest of the country without market mechanism. Local people see their oil and other minerals shipped out without proper compensation or a mechanism of value-added, often without the creation of jobs for the locals.

But it is impossible to balance everything at one time. One shall see the length of development and the depth of the associated problems. Also it is important to foresee the significance of not developing everywhere. It is not just necessary to industrialize the west. It is also important to bring basic security and welfare to the west through clean development and natural preservation. As long as the west keeps some of its original landscape, it offers China rich biodiversity and strategic reserve, in terms of resources and territory. We need to preserve the west against over-development, for the future generations of Chinese.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/node_7082361.htm