China's west logs 11.2% growth

Gross domestic product (GDP) of China's west grew 11.2% in 2003, according to statistics released by the government group responsible for overseeing the region's development. The Leading Group under the State Council for Development of the Western Regions reported that the region, which includes six provinces, five autonomous regions and Chongqing municipality combined for a GDP of US$273 billion. One of the autonomous regions, Inner Mongolia, reported 16.3% year-on-year GDP growth in 2003 the fastest growth in all of China's administrative regions. Fixed asset investment in the west was up 30.7% over 2002, reaching US$107.7 billion.