Delegate calls for special fund for western development

At the ongoing NPC and CPPCC sessions, Li Yaping, a NPC delegate from Western China's Sichuan province, told China Daily that he will submit a proposal suggesting the central government establish a special fund for development of China's western regions.

"We suggest the government establish a special fund to support the development of major projects in Sichuan as well as in other western provinces and regions, so as to maintain a long-term investment mechanism in western China," said Li, who is also the director of Sichuan provincial CPPCC Economic Committee.

"Compared to China's eastern regions, Sichuan remains poor in infrastructure construction and its economic structure is irrational, Li said, "the quality of Sichuan's economic development also needs to be improved."

"Even within Sichuan, economic development in the various regions is uneven," he added.

Li said Sichuan is in urgent need of financial support and preferential policies from the central government to clear away obstacles hindering its economic development.