Beijing earmarks US$4.8 billion for Western China 10-year development plan

The government of China has appropriated RMB33.2 billion (US$4.861 billion) for agricultural development in western regions aligned to its western development strategy which was launched in 2000.

From 2000 to 2009, the government granted RMB78.7 billion of anti-poverty funds to western regions.

For ten years, China has been increasing investments in western regions' agriculture and made active efforts to establish high-standard farmlands and raise grain production capacities.

Meanwhile, it also supported natural forest protection projects and grassland ecological construction projects to improve the ecological environment of western regions.

China launched the western development strategy in 2000 to help the relatively underdeveloped western region close the gap with the more prosperous east. The strategy involves 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, covers 6.85 million square kilometres and a population of about 367 million.