By Li Hongmei
China's State Council, the country's cabinet, recently approved two national-level new areas in western China, namely the Xixian New Area in NW Shaanxi province and Gui'an New Area in SW Guizhou province, increasing the number of new areas in the western region to four - on top of Liangjiang New Area in Chongqing and Lanzhou New Area in Gansu province, reports Shanghai's China Business News.
The western region now accounts for half of the eight new national-level areas, on a par with that of the eastern region, underscoring the nation's westward development strategy.
The Gui'an New Area accommodates Guiyang and Anshun city, spanning 1,795 square kilometers, while the Xixian New Area incorporates Xi'an and Xianyang city, boasting an area of 882 square kilometers. Xixian New Area, for instance, will greatly enhance the status of Xi'an in the Silk Road economic belt, the paper said. The new area will be used as a tool by the Chinese government to spearhead its economic development strategy, following the likes of special zones, high and new tech zones, and economic technological development zones.
The latest national-level new areas are all located in western China, away from the initial focus on eastern China, and represents the westward shift of national development. The first four national-level new areas are Pudong, Binhai, Zhoushan, and Nansha.
The Xixian and Gui'an new areas are expected to witness an influx of massive capital, boosting realty prices and economic development, similar to what has happened to the six existing new areas. One major reason is development direction provided by the central government, which also provides some incentives and financial support in the areas.
In one year following its inauguration, the Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing has witnessed its annual output value topping 100 billion yuan (US$16.5 billion). In addition to the stimulation of economic development, national-level new areas can also alleviate the pressure of overpopulation in major cities.
Insiders said that after the existing national-level new areas have gained solid footholds, more new areas will go up in other parts of the nation.
