"Xinjiang has rich natural resources like oil and gas, and we should focus on transforming these resources into profitable industries," Amut said. "Increasing contact with central Asian countries also provides us more academic subjects."

    Amut was speaking in Shanghai at the third University Presidents Forum, where the theme is "innovation and service at university".

    Xiang Benchun, president of Xinjiang's Shihezi University, said innovative research results should serve regional development. "Shihezi is an important farming area, so we focus on increasing output and improving the quality of produce."

    Shihezi University regularly sent teachers to advise farmers and had joined with a local company in establishing a carrot juice factory with an annual production of 100,000 tons, benefiting local farmers.

    Chen Yuning, president of Ningxia University in West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, said the institution's academic research had closely reflected exploration in western areas, with four major faculties covering oil and gas, farming and pasture, grass planting and history.

    "We have shifted our focus away from infrastructure construction and environmental protection to our local advantages," he said. "Only by consistently adjusting the scope of our research, can we narrow the gap with developed areas."

    Chen said a university in an underdeveloped area should be actively communicating with local authorities and businesses, so that research results can be applied practically as quickly as possible.

    Close contact with the local business community could help increase teaching staff incomes and broaden the curricula, he added.