Rural affairs, infrastructure and ecological development, cultivation of specialty industries, and social welfare will be the main points of focus for this year's campaign to develop China's vast western regions. This was the outcome of the third plenary session of the leading group for development of western Chinese regions with the State Council held in Beijing on Tuesday.

Premier Wen Jiabao, who chaired the meeting, told participants to "carry out and implement in an unswerving manner" the strategies and arrangements laid down by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council concerning exploring the western regions.

Participants agreed that since the campaign was launched five years ago, major strides have been made, and notable results have been achieved.

Nevertheless, there are still challenges and difficulties to be faced. Project participants said that developing the western regions will be a long and arduous task.

Education development will be given priority. Participants hope to popularize the nine-year compulsory schooling system, and to implement the policy of waiving tuition fees for poor students from rural areas.

In the meantime, efforts will also be channeled into preventing the spread of infectious and endemic diseases. In addition, it is also necessary to step up the construction of a public health service network in rural areas.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2005)