Full text: Report on China's economic, social development plan(15)

7. We will promote coordinated development among different regions.

1) We will improve development of China's geographical space. Capitalizing on the comparative advantages of different regions and fully considering the capacity of the market and the carrying capacity of resources and the environment, we will carry out pilot projects and demonstrations for developing functional zones to form a regional development pattern in which there is a proper division of work between regions that complement each other and take on their own distinctive features.

2) We will give high priority to developing the western region on a large scale. We will improve the policy system and permanent mechanism for this purpose, continue to launch major infrastructure projects in the western region, and support the development of industries that can take advantage of the region's local strengths. We will more quickly open up the region to the outside world, and create a number of leading areas to open up and develop border regions and the hinterland. We will implement the policies and measures to develop Xinjiang, Tibet, and Tibetan ethnic areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai provinces in leaps and bounds.

3) We will fully revitalize old industrial bases in northeast China. We will research and formulate policies for this purpose for the next ten years, accelerate the optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure, support the region's opening up to Northeast Asia, and promote ecological conservation and economic transformation in its forest areas. We will also promote sustainable development of northeastern cities once dependent on now-depleted mineral resources, and launch pilot projects to completely relocate and transform old industrial districts in cities and transform and relocate industrial and mining areas.

4) We will work to promote the rise of the central region. We will thoroughly carry out the guidelines on implementing the strategy for promoting the rise of the central region, and support the integrated development of city clusters in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. We will promote cooperation in the region, encourage the region to work together more with other regions and open wider to the outside world, and make better use of its comparative advantages in carrying on industries relocated from the eastern region.

5) We will support the eastern region in taking the lead in development. We will encourage the region to lead the way and explore new paths in the reform of administrative and financial systems. We will encourage the region to accelerate industrial transformation and upgrading and increase its innovation capability. We will research and formulate a marine development strategy, successfully implement pilot projects for developing the marine economy, strengthen comprehensive marine management, protect the marine environment, and become better able to exploit marine resources.

6) We will continue to increase support for old revolutionary base areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas, and poor areas; and promote the partnership system that pairs developed regions with underdeveloped regions to provide aid and support. We will put more emphasis on replacing relief subsidies with work and relocating people from inhospitable areas as a poverty relief measure. We will support the accelerated development of contiguous areas with acute difficulties.