Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday called for developing China's poverty-stricken western region using the scientific concept of development, at a workshop in memory of the fifth anniversary of the launching of the Western Development Strategy by the central government.

Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" should be taken as the guidance in implementing the strategy to accelerate the development of the economically backward western areas, said Hu, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Central Military Commission.

In his speech, the top leader highlighted the achievements of the Western Development Strategy over the past five years and pledged to carry out the strategy continuously, stressing it is a major strategic resolution the central authorities have made in consideration of the general situation of the country's reform, opening up and socialist modernization drive.

It is proved that the strategic resolution and the guiding principles are correct, the president said. He called for deepening reforms, readjusting economic structures, transforming ways of economic growth, speeding up the development of infrastructure and bioenvironment, making greater efforts in dealing with problems related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers, and depending on the people in the western region.

Vice-Premier and Member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Zeng Peiyan also addressed the meeting, urging all to study the instructions by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

According to the official, a total of 850 billion yuan (about US$102.4 billion) have been invested in over 60 large infrastructure projects in the region since 2000.

Over the past five years, the government has invested 460 billion yuan (about US$55.42 billion) and allocated over 500 billion yuan (about US$60.24 billion), as transfer payment or special subsidies for the development of the western region.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2005)