China's west should step up building its energy and resources bases to fuel the fast-growing national economy, said Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan in Xining Tuesday.

Zeng urged China's west to develop such industries as oil, natural gas, coal and hydro-power energy for the national economic progress and security of the country's energy supply.

China's western development strategy has brought great changes to the regions in the past six years, said Zeng at a symposium on industrial development of the western regions, adding that the regions should make good use of its advantages, such as energy and tourism, for further development.

China started the drive in 2000, targeting 12 underdeveloped western areas, to narrow the gap between these areas and the fast-growing east.

Major tasks of the drive include improving infrastructure, beefing up ecological and environmental protection, improving healthcare and promoting education in these areas.

Zeng called for deepening reforms, readjusting economic structures, transforming ways of economic growth and making greater efforts in agriculture development in the western regions.

He also stressed the western regions should develop the recycling economy and adopt resources-conservation policies for its sustainable development.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2005)