Chinese Vice Premier Zeng
Peiyan urged local governments to promote coordinated
development between city and countryside in his study tour of
southwestern China's Chongqing
Municipality and Sichuan
and Guizhou provinces from April 4 to 8.
Zeng spoke with experts and provincial officials, stressing that
local governments should give priority to boosting agriculture,
improving farmers' income and addressing rural issues.
Zeng also expressed concern about environmental protection,
stressing that it is of vital importance to protect environment
while developing economy.
In the Development of China's Western Regions program launched
in the late 1990s to boost the economy of the country's west, local
governments should vigorously develop tourism and high-tech
industries, but give up power-consuming industries and high
polluted industries, he said.
He urged local governments to treat river pollution as soon as
possible and let cultivated land revert to its natural state.
Zeng instructed local governments to frame city development
plans by holding public hearings, soliciting opinions from experts
and curbing land allocation for excessive construction.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2005)