The State Council approved a plan submitted by the National Development and Reform Commission to boost development in the country’s central regions during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei and Hunan provinces are asked to connect their major engineering projects, policies and reform targets in the plan with the economic and social development of their own regions, taking measures to make sure the tasks detailed in the plan are done.

Members of the joint inter-ministerial meeting are urged to formulate specific policies relating to major sectors in the development of the central regions, and provide positive guidance and support for policy implementation, project arrangement, and mechanism innovation.

The State Council also urged mobilizing social power and explore market potential, to create a favorable policy environment for the implementation of the plan and provide support to reinforce economic development of the central regions.

NDRC was asked to strengthen coordination and services, and cooperate with related departments to analyze, assess and supervise the implementation of the plan. Major issues should be reported to the State Council.