Abstract:
In 1999, the central government implemented an important policy on the development of Western China, in order to promote economic development and narrow the economic gap between the east and west in China. This year, as the policy has been implemented for twenty years, we study the economic development of the eastern and western regions and analyze by statistical analysis whether the development program actually achieved its strategic objectives. This paper analyzes and evaluates the economic development of West China and the change of the economic gap between the East and the West in the 20 years since the implementation through the construction of six indicators of regional economic development index system. Based on the research results, this paper summarizes the achievements and makes a prospect for a new round of development in Western China. It can be found that the program has played a significant positive role in the economic growth of the western region, but the effect of narrowing the economic gap between the eastern and western regions is not obvious. The 20year experience of the development of the western region shows that the development of the western region needs to lay the foundation for development by infrastructure construction, promote by development of industrialization and urbanization, and provide the driving force by industrial structure adjustment and enhancement of reform and opening-up. Since the new era, China's economy has changed from quantitative growth to qualiative growth. The new round of western development must be coordinated with the “Belt and Road” Initiative. Guided by the new development concept and aiming at highquality development, the government should strengthen openingup and indepth cooperation with foreign businessmen, and realize the transformation of economic development in the western region with innovation at the core.
