They said the goal of developing the vast western regions, which span half the country, should be one of the most important for the nation's top legislature.

"This (western development) is a great task and could need strenuous efforts by more than one generation," said Mu Xuheng, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Sichuan Province. "Legislation is therefore a necessity," he said.

Legislators say that western development is more than just an economic issue. The "go-west" campaign is intimately linked with the nation's social and political security and its future development strategy, since it affects many different groups' interests in terms of culture, tradition and religion.

And the conflicts between different parties have to be settled by the rule of law, said Mu.

Legislators said the proposed law has to clarify several key issues, including who will be responsible for western development, who will share in its benefits, what can be explored in the west, and what cannot.

"A critical issue is to clarify the rights and duties of central and local governments," said Mu.

According to legislators, the proposed law also aims to create a favorable investment environment and build up confidence among the local people.

Zhang Shoucheng, head of the Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, said: "Policy changes often spook investors, but their confidence can be shored up by improving laws, which are relatively stable."

"The enforcement of such laws will also make local people more content because they will know their living standards will improve with the state's support."

Yao Xiangcheng, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Qinghai Province, echoes Zhang's view, adding that a law on western development will also prevent the excessive exploitation of natural resources in the western regions.

"Ecological deterioration in the west is detrimental to the whole nation and healthy ecosystems have to be protected by laws," said Yao.

Yao also proposed that a co-operative mechanism between western and eastern regions be established, saying it was up to the central government to balance the interests of both parties.

China decided in 1999 to launch the "go-west" campaign to help its relatively backward western and central areas catch up with more affluent eastern China.

The per capita gross domestic product in the vast western regions, rich in natural resources and home to one-fourth of China's population, accounts for only 40 per cent of that in the nation's eastern regions.

(China Daily March 13, 2003)