West China sees strong growth

China's "Go West" policy produced strong growth in the underdeveloped regions of western China in the first half of 2004, officials reported. According to the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC), 10 provinces excluding Guizhou and Tibet logged economic expansion rates of more than 12% in the period from January to July. Inner Mongolia saw the highest growth rate in the country, hitting 18.7%, Vice-Minister Li Zibin said. He added that large enterprises in west China recorded a year-on-year rise of 22% in combined industrial added value, compared with the national average of 17.1%. Meanwhile investment in fixed assets, including infrastructure and factory equipment, in west China jumped 34.3%, slightly higher than the national average of 31.3%.