The State Council approved a development plan for China’s western regions on Jan 24.

Submitted by the National Development and Reform Commission, the plan is aimed at promoting development in the western regions during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

Basic infrastructure and ecological protection are key issues, and efforts should be made to advance coordinated development in urbanization, industrialization, informatization, and agricultural modernization, according to the State Council.

Progress should also be made to improve people’s lives, social harmony, border security, and ethic unity, the State Council said.

Missions including major projects and policies of the plan should be connected with local governments’ 13th Five-Year Plan, it said.

Efforts should also be made to coordinate the western development plan with major strategies, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and Yangtze River economic belt development plan, according to the State Council.