The Guodian Xinjiang Hongyanchi Power Co Ltd in Urumqi, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, as shown in a photo taken on Sept 7. China Guodian invested 20 billion yuan in Xinjiang from 2006 to 2010. [Photo  / China Daily]

 

Targeted program will see region prosper, Cui Jia and Mao Weihua report from Urumqi.

The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region's economy will be transformed over the next five years by targeted investment from State-owned enterprises.

The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission held a meeting in Urumqi, the regional capital, last month to discuss the enterprises' role in boosting the region's economic development.

Top officials from 121 State-owned companies contributed to the meeting.

Xinjiang will be a major production base for petroleum, petrochemicals and energy related industries, Wang Yong, chairman of the commission, said.

The government is also encouraging State enterprises to boost the region's infrastructure, especially transport, and improve water and electricity supplies.

"The enterprises should feel responsible for promoting this development, which will benefit residents and improve living standards in the region," Wang said during the meeting.

"When trying to help the autonomous region develop, State-owned enterprises shouldn't follow the old path of expanding blindly, abusing resources and responding to pollution only after it has occurred. They should take part in construction projects that lead to the employment of more local workers."

Zhang Chunxian, Party chief of Xinjiang, welcomed the enterprises' investment in the region but said they should place a priority on protecting the environment and work only toward sustainable forms of development.