China to speed up development of pilot economic zone in Ningxia

China has reportedly decided to speed up the development of a pilot economic zone in Ningxia.

China's economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission has set up an inter-ministerial meeting mechanism to speed up the process.

The country approved the Ningxia Inland Opening-up Pilot Economic Zone in 2012 which is expected to enhance cooperation between China and the Arab world and also serves as a prototype for a new pattern for opening of inland areas.

The meetings will draw on 39 government bodies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology among others.

The inter-ministerial meetings will coordinate efforts to build the pilot zone, provide assistance to Ningxia in terms of policy implementation and institutional innovation, and strengthen information exchange among government bodies involved.