中共中央在中南海召开座谈会听取各民主党派、全国工商联负责人和无党派人士关于实施西部大开发战略的意见和建议。中共中央总书记、国家主席江泽民主持座谈会并发表重要讲话。他强调指出，实施西部大开发，将为21世纪我国经济的发展开拓新的空间，将有力地增强对我国经济增长 The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a forum in Zhongnanhai to listen to the opinions and suggestions of all the democratic parties, heads of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and persons without party affiliation on the implementation of the strategy of developing the western region. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and State President Jiang Zemin presided over the forum and delivered an important speech. He emphasized that implementing the large-scale development of the western region will open a new space for the economic development of our country in the 21st century and will effectively enhance the economic growth of our country