The Ningxia Government is sparing no effort to boost the enthusiasm of officials and residents to encourage them to participate in local government affairs. Wang believes the region can be best administrated through the concerted efforts of both the government and the people. For instance, in 2007, the government made 10 promises to the public such as providing vocational education to students who could not go to senior high school. It published a detailed plan in newspapers and on television programs so that the citizens could ensure the government lived up to its promises.

Resource advantages

Governor Wang said Ningxia's biggest economic advantage lies in its abundant resources, especially its rich agricultural products. Although the country's total area of cultivated lands has been shrinking quickly, Ningxia has been adding more than 14,000 hectares of new arable land each year, Wang said. Ningxia has the fourth largest area of cultivated land per capita in China. In addition, it has about 1 million hectares of wastelands waiting to be explored.

"Those who are rich in resources will enjoy enormous wealth," Wang said. "Land is the mother of wealth. So I believe Ningxia's economic development will turn onto a fast track in the future, although it is poor for the time being."

The sharp temperature differences during the day and night offer favorable growing conditions for fruits such as Ningxia xisha watermelon whose taste is considered better than other types of watermelon. The fruit, which was served in the Olympic Village during the Beijing Games, costs twice as much as other domestic watermelons.

Ningxia is also rich in energy. Its coal reserve exceeds 200 billion tons, and it has the largest coalfields in the country. The smallest one can produce 2.4 million tons of coal each year, and the largest is capable of producing 12 million tons, Wang said. Because the government does not allow private companies to explore, its coalfields are soundly preserved.

Ningxia also has a number of well-known tourist spots, which are becoming nationwide famous, such as Liupanshan Mountain, Helanshan Mountain, the Sand Lake and areas along the Yellow River. Wang said he believes the region has a great tourism potential.

Economic development

Wang stressed the importance of turning the region's resource advantages into economic advantages. In this regard, Ningxia should adhere to two principles: independent development and opening up.

"Ningxia is a small autonomous region, that's why we must make concerted efforts with any major economic development events," Wang said.

Currently, the region is building the Ningdong (east Ningxia) Development Zone, an important national-level base for the coal and chemical industries, to be a major economic engine in the region. With financial support from the Central Government, lots of money has been poured into the project, Wang said.