A massive border railway along the border of China, Russia and
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will be built in
northeast China, officials have announced.
The 1,380-kilometer-long track will provide a "golden"
transportation passage from the remote inland areas of northeast
China - the nation's old industrial heartland - to the outside
world.
It will range from the Suifenhe River in the north of Heilongjiang
Province, passing Tumen and Tonghua of Jilin
Province, to Benxi, Dandong and Zhuanghe of Liaoning
Province, and to Dalian in the south, a key harbor of the Bohai
Sea.
Most of the places the railway runs through boast quite rich and
varied resources, such as lumber and minerals, but with lagging
economies.
And the shortage of efficient transportation lines to the
outside world has been a long-existing problem for these inland and
remote areas that have long needed a shot in the arm to boost trade
and economic luster.
The line should be completed in 15 years, according to the
Ministry of Railways, and will connect more than 10 cities and 30
counties in the eastern part of northeast China, with an area up to
220,000 square kilometers and a population of 18 million.
Meanwhile, it will allow 11 independent railway lines in
northeast China, to finally be linked.
The railway is expected to enhance the export of inland
resources and products of Northeast China to the other areas of
China and overseas markets.
It will also greatly promote land border trade between China and
Russia, the Republic of Korea and DPRK.
(China Daily February 4, 2004)