10th anniversary of Western Development Strategy exhibition opens in Beijing

An exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of the Western Development Strategy opened at the National Agriculture Exhibition Center in Beijing yesterday.

The vice premier of the State Council Hui Liangyu announced the opening of the exhibition, which is themed on the ecological and living environment in western regions.

Hui Liangyu gave full affirmation to the 10 years of tremendous achievements in the improvement of the social and economic environment in western regions since the implementation of the Western Development Strategy in 2000.

Hui Liangyu said he earnestly hopes that the western regions will adhere to the scientific development concept to guide economic and social development, which will lead to more beautiful western regions and make a greater contribution to national ecological security.

The vice chairman of the National Committee Abdulaiti Amudurexiti attended the opening ceremony.

The exhibition was composed of 16 halls with nearly 3,000 pictures that vividly show major improvements in the ecological and living environment in western regions of last 10 years.

The western regions have implemented a series of significant forestry and environmental protection projects including natural forest protection, afforestation, sandstorm source control, shelter forest belts construction and shangri-la environment protection. Forest coverage rose from more than 10.3 percent in 2000 to over 17 percent in 2009. Prosperous, stable, socially-progressive western regions with national solidarity and beautiful landscapes are unfolding before the world.

The exhibition was co-sponsored by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the State Forestry Administration and co-assisted by the 12 provinces in the western regions, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.

Author:Liu Weitao, People’s Daily, July 13,2010. Editor: Li Mu