Abstract: As a bridge to technical knowledge and economic production, vocational and technological education is seen as a transformer which can convert science and technology into practical productive forces as well as a changing field where populat ion load can be made into high quality manpo wer resources. Therefore, developing vocational and technological education in the rural areas is of great signi ficance to the realization of the grand plan of western exploitation. In recent years, vocational and technological educaton in these areas, combining itself with the regional economic development, has made some progress both in the enlargement of school- running size and in the perfection of school-running patterns. Nevertheless, there are still many problems and difficulties to be solved. Thus building up a new mechanism of virtuous circle between vocational education and economic development is a hopeful way for these areas to shake off poverty and become rich.

Key words: minority areas, vocational and technological education, regional economic development