The
Chinese government's strategy of developing West China
aims mainly at narrowing the economic gap between various
regions of the country and developing the west provinces
which are remote and comparatively backward. This strategy
means new business opportunities for foreign merchants,
who are facing a more and more fierce competition in the
coastal area of China.
West China, especially Xi'an, the capital of Shanxi Province
and the third biggest scientific research base of China,
following Beijing and Shanghai in terms of the number
of specialists and the technological level, has rich scientific
and technological resources, which are valuable for foreign
investors to develop high-value-added products in fields
like electronics, telecommunication and mechanical production.
This area, famed for the ancient silk road and numerous
scenic spots, terra-cotta in Xi'an, for example, also
offers foreign investors another great potential field
for development in tourism. China's imminent entry into
the WTO and the further opening of its tourism will create
even more favorable conditions for foreign investors.
The abundance of natural resources in west China also
adds to the charm of the area. The authorities of west
China, having problems of lacking capital, large-scale
production capability and sale channels, attaches great
importance to the development of these resources, especially
to Chinese herb, of which this area has an abundance.
A special zone with favorable policies aiming at developing
the production of traditional Chinese medicine into a
backbone industry is being built, and the government is
calling eagerly for foreign capital, expertise, information
and advanced business management.
What's more, central and west China provides foreign investors
with a promising and enormous market. This area, with
about one-fourth of the national population, contains
huge market potential.
