The State Council issued a circular on Jan 26, aimed at supporting Southwest China’s Guizhou province to blaze a new trail during the development of the western regions.

Guizhou, according to the circular, is marked as a demonstration zone for comprehensive reform of the western regions’ development, sample plot for consolidating poverty alleviation achievements, exemplar for inland open economy, innovation zone for digital economic development, and pilot zone for ecological progress.

The circular outlines key tasks in seven areas, calling for efforts to accelerate market-based allocation of factors of production, deepen reform of State-owned enterprises and State-owned assets, and thoroughly optimize the business environment.

Comprehensive advancement of rural vitalization and new urbanization call for constant development of regions that have been lifted out of poverty, solid implementation of rural construction, further efforts to boost modern and effective mountain farming, and comprehensive human-oriented urbanization, it said.

To upgrade the construction of pilot zones for inland open economy, Guizhou is encouraged to facilitate free and convenient trade and investment, open internal and external channels, and push forward the construction of open platforms.

In addition, the circular also stressed construction of a modern industrial system driven by the digital economy, requiring efforts to enhance innovation in science and technology, launch digital industrial chain campaigns, push the upgrading of traditional industries, and promote the prosperity of cultural and tourism industries.