China will boost development of its central region in line with its strategy to promote coordinated development of various regions, according to a top-level meeting held on Monday.

"We should further cultivate a new scenario featuring interaction between the eastern, central and western regions and common development," said a statement from the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chaired by the committee's General Secretary Hu Jintao.

There were calls for efforts to build the region into a major grain production base, a base of energy and raw materials, a base of modern equipment manufacture and new and high-tech industry and a comprehensive transportation hub.

"The central region will develop through acting as a link between the eastern and western regions and taking advantage of its strengths in certain sectors," said the statement.

Advantages of the central region come from its location, natural resources, industrial pattern and human resources.

The CPC Central Committee and the State Council have adopted a strategy to encourage the eastern area to take the lead in development, carry out large-scale development of the western region and invigorate Northeast China and other old industrial bases.