Global slowdown may hit China's hinterland hard

China's less-developed central and western parts are likely to suffer more than coastal regions in the unfolding global economic slowdown in the long term, warned a senior official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Fledging industrial structures, sharply declining resource prices and a weaker capability to handle risk and social conflict make the western and middle regions more vulnerable to global financial woes, said NDRC's vice-minister Du Ying.

This is the government's first public regional risk assessment since the outbreak of the financial crisis. Du made the remarks at a recent national meeting. They were posted on the NDRC's website yesterday.