The mainland government plans to accelerate investment in its western regions under the Go West scheme, officials at the 16th Communist Party Congress said yesterday. As the rest of China moves towards a market economy, the west appears to be a throwback to the planned economy of an earlier era. Officials said investment in infrastructure and environmental protection - including 10 billion yuan to clean up the Tarim River in Xinjiang - would top the priorities of the programme, which has already cost 210 billion yuan (HK$197 billion) since it was launched in 1999. WRIT13GET
