TAIYUAN — China will continue to step up support for the high-quality development of its central region, an official said on May 21.

The country will further smoothen market circulation and unleash consumption potential in the region, said Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of Commerce, at the 12th Expo Central China in Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province.

Efforts will also be made to maximize the functions of pilot free trade zones and national economic development zones to build the region into a new highland of opening up, Wang added.

While improving the business environment to attract more overseas investors, China will encourage this inland region to ramp up international cooperation in technology, resources, and energy, and create more industrial clusters, he said.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting in late March to review a guideline on promoting high-quality development of the central region in the new era.

Promoting the high-quality development of the central region is of overall significance as it has rich resources, well-developed transport networks, a sound industrial foundation, and massive development potential, according to the meeting.