Premier Wen Jiabao called for coordinating economic development in different regions and promoting the development of the western region and the revitalization of northeast China and other old industrial bases, when he delivered a report on the work of the government at the opening of the annual parliament session Friday.

"Promoting the coordinated development of all regions is of strategic importance to China's modernization drive," Wen said. "We need to steadfastly push forward with the development of the western region, revitalize northeast China and other old industrial bases, promote the development of the central region and encourage faster development in the eastern region so that the eastern, central and western regions can better interact, complement and support each other, and develop together."

China will continue to implement the strategy of developing the western region; implement the strategy for revitalizing northeast China and other old industrial bases, working to get off to a good start this year; accelerate the development of the central region, according to the premier.

He said that accelerating development of the eastern region will strengthen the country financially, materially, scientifically and technologically, thereby providing more support for the development of the central and western regions.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2004)