The State Council on March 7 gave its approval to upgrade a high-tech development zone in Chuxiong city, Southwest China’s Yunnan province, to national-level development zone.

The zone, comprising 4 blocks, covers an area of 7.16 square kilometers, according to a State Council document.

The development zone should promote technological innovation and entrepreneurship, create a favorable business environment and cultivate new industries and business models, the State Council said.

The zone is expected to become a powerful engine for driving regional economic restructuring and transformation, and a frontier of advanced technologies in the world.

The document also urged the local government to strictly implement the overall plan for land use and urban development, and supply land in accordance with law. The land should be mainly used for industry, not for real estate development.