Tang Jiqiang, head of the development planning office of the Chengdu High-Tech Zone, addresses a forum held by the Global Times on Dec 21. [Photo by China Daily]

Lagging behind the east for decades, west China has continuously longed to realize its "Western Dream".

Western China's Chengdu and Xi'an were selected on the list of "2012 Most Attractive Investment Destinations" released by the Global Times on Dec 21. Cities in west China — represented by Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an — are emerging as engines of China's economy with a new round of the Western Development Program.

But the region needs more support, said Tang Jiqiang, head of the development planning office of the Chengdu High-Tech Zone.

The Western Development Program, started 12 years ago, has driven the development of west China. However, the gap between the western and eastern regions is still growing. GDP in East China's Guangdong province is almost 100 times Tibet, according to Tang.

"We need young people to come and contribute to the west," he added.

"The westward movement lead to the integration of America's western and eastern regions and laid the foundation of the nation’s modern development. China is facing its own opportunity," said Tang.

"The 'Western Dream' is the Chinese Dream in essence," Tang noted. "Chengdu, Xi'an and other emerging western Chinese cities would light up the west and greater China."

As a representative of western China's hub cities, Chengdu is experiencing rapid social and economic development. The city has attracted 229 of the world's top 500 enterprises as of this June. Its GDP is expected to reach 800 billion yuan ($128 billion) by the end of 2012. Chengdu is also the host city of next year's Fortune Global Forum.