西部大开发的目的是为了消除贫困，缩小差距，促进西部地区经济、社会、文化和生态环境的协调、持续、快速发展，在大开发中西部及民族地区是主体，必须充分发挥民族地区自治权的政治优势，目前对民族地区自治权的重视及其制定、行使和保障机制等方面都有待完善和健全。 The purpose of the western development is to eradicate poverty, narrow the gap and promote the coordinated, sustained and rapid economic, social, cultural and ecological environment in the western region. In the course of developing the central, western and ethnic regions, it is essential to give full play to the autonomy of ethnic regions At present, the emphasis placed on the autonomy of ethnic areas and the mechanism for its formulation, exercise and guarantee have yet to be perfected and improved.