With the implementation of China's development strategy in western area, the provinces and autonomous regions are determined to make full use of local natural resources to promote rural economy.

Farmland in the provinces and autonomous regions makes up one-fourth of the country's total. Meanwhile, grassland and water resources in the area account for 60 and 50 percent respectively.

In recent years, agricultural zones highlighting high-quality local specialties have been burgeoning in western area, such as potatoes in Gansu Province, flower in Yunan Province, color cotton in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and milk products in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Shaanxi Province, in northwest China, has planted more than 400,000 hectares of apple trees with an annual output of four million tons. The apples are exported to over 20 countries and regions worldwide, earning eight billion yuan (US$ 960 million) per year.

In the following years to come, China will focus on developing seven major agricultural zones in western area featuring a variety of local specialties including tropical fruits, sugar cane, tobacco, cotton, olive oil and Chinese medicinal herbs.

(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2001)