China seeks to bolster ports and aviation hubs in western regions By Reuters

(Reuters) – China announced on Sunday it will launch 15 measures to boost the development of its western provinces by building logistics infrastructure such as ports and aviation hubs.

The General Administration of Customs said the measures will help integrate rail, air, river and sea links in western China, state media reported.

Measures include expanding international aviation hubs in cities including Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Xi’an and Urumqi, while developing comprehensive connectivity zones and integrating them with ports and other transport links.

A number of ports will also be built and expanded.

China has long sought to shore up the economic weight of its western regions, which have lagged significantly behind the coastal provinces. criticism.

China’s western regions account for about two-thirds of the country’s land area and include regions such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and Tibet.

China’s Politburo called for “new urbanization” of western China last year to revitalize rural areas, expand poverty alleviation efforts and boost energy resources.There have also been efforts to increase trade corridors, including rail freight routes, with Europe and South Asia. :