China announced on Sunday that it will implement 15 measures to boost the development of its western provinces by building logistical infrastructure, including ports and aviation hubs.
According to the General Administration of Customs, the initiative will strengthen the integration of rail, air, river, and sea transportation in the western regions.
The plan includes enhancing international aviation hubs in cities such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Xi’an, and Urumqi. It also involves the development of comprehensive bonded zones, which will be integrated with ports and other transport systems.
Additionally, several ports will be built and expanded to support the region’s growth.
China has been working to improve the economic strength of its western provinces, which have lagged behind the more developed coastal areas. However, regions like Xinjiang have faced ethnic tensions and strict security measures that Beijing says are necessary to ensure national unity and border stability, though these measures have been criticized by some Western countries.
The western regions make up about two-thirds of China’s land area and include provinces such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Last year, China’s Politburo called for “new urbanization” efforts in western areas to revitalize rural regions, reduce poverty, and strengthen energy resources.
China has also worked to enhance connections between its western regions and Europe and South Asia through trade corridors, including rail freight routes, as part of its broader efforts to support economic development in these areas.
