The western regions, where the  IT industry has been traditionally weak, will soon see development in the information sector, said Lu Xinkui, vice-minister of  Information Industry, in his speech to the China Western Forum,  which opened here Tuesday.

   Lu said that four provinces in the west are listed as the  country's least info-developed areas while none is ranked in the  country's top ten. "The discrepancy between the western and  eastern regions will be deepened if western people cannot keep up  with the digitizing process."

   The vice-minister promised that more money will be invested in  the construction of telecommunications networks to increase the  use of telephones, mobile phones and the Internet.

   Meanwhile, information technology and related products will be  developed along with the region's economic improvement and the  application of these technologies should be promoted.

   Lu also said that information services including E-commerce,  tele-education and tele-medical care are expected to be introduced.

   Lu said he believes an open environment in western regions will attract more foreign capital to invest in these information  sectors as well as their developed eastern counterparts.