1999: the "Western Development" guidelines are clarified

2000: the "Western Development" plan begins

2001: the official website of the "Western Development" program is launched

2002: construction of the "West-East Gas Pipeline" begins

2003: the policy of "Returning Grazing Land to Grassland" comes into effect

2004: the Law on Promoting Western Development is listed on the legislative plan of the 10th National People's Congress

2005: compulsory education tuition and fees become exempt in western areas

2006: the Qinghai-Tibet Railway begins operation

2007: the Ministry of Finance invests 280 billion yuan in the west to support key projects

(China Development Gateway January 4, 2010)