Strategies for Economic Reforms and Development of Western China

Abstract

Western China, known for its diverse ethnic cultures and abundant natural resources, is a vast territory with a great potential for development owing to its unique geographic location in proximity to China's neighbouring countries. Still, it remains underdeveloped and lags far behind the rest of the country in social-economic development, and the growing disparity between the western and eastern parts of the country threatens to undermine the overall social-economic development of China. A strong case can be made for easing government control over state-owned enterprises, encouraging private entrepreneurship with appropriate incentives, and forging economic links with both the Eastern region of the country and the countries sharing borders with Western China.