Aerial photo taken on Dec. 16, 2019 shows a bullet train running on the Xixi River grand bridge of the Chengdu-Guiyang railway in southwest China's Guizhou Province. The 648-km-long Chengdu-Guiyang high-speed rail line is an important part of China's ambitious plan to build a high-speed railway network across the country. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

BEIJING, May 18  -- China issued a guideline on advancing the development of western regions in new era to promote coordinated regional development on Sunday.

Achieving western development in new era is of great practical and profound historical significance to completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and embarking on a journey to fully build a modern socialist China, according to the document issued by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

By 2020, the western regions as whole will see its ecological, business, opening-up and innovation environment to be substantially improved.

It will basically realize socialist modernization by 2035, with its public service level, infrastructure connectivity and people's living standard on par with the eastern regions, the document said.

In doing so, China will strive to promote high-quality development.