The Role of Xinjiang in the Development of Western Regions
Research relevance: for the development of China, the program for the development of the western regions, proclaimed at the 4th Plenum of the 15th CPC Central Committee (September 1999), is of great importance. This program was first promulgated by Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the All-China Conference in Xi'an (Shaanxi Province), and then by Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhu Rongji at the 3rd session of the NPC (March 2000). Research objectives: to consider the development programs of the western regions of China for a long period up to 2050 and providing for the predominant development of energy, mining, metalworking, the construction of an extensive transport infrastructure in carrying out environmental protection work on a large scale. Research materials and methods: identification of a number of specific measures for the development of the western regions of China, aimed at state support in the western regions of investment projects, investment and tax incentives for the regions, expansion of channels of financial revenues for the implementation of investment projects. Research results: within the framework of this program, it is planned to solve the problem of providing the local population with drinking water, the construction of 16 national expressways and railways from Qinghai to Tibet and Xi'an to Nanjing, the laying of a gas pipeline from Xinjiang to Shanghai, the construction of several power lines for providing electricity to the southern dynamically most developing province of Guangdong and other infrastructure projects no less important for the whole of China. Conclusions: the leadership of the PRC provides for the further development of the western regions of China in order to reduce the gap between the developed coastal zones and the backward central and western regions both in terms of share of GDP and per capita GDP.