In order to keep up with the fast economic development occurring in west China, Chongqing Municipality has started a series of projects with an end to construct a more advanced network of land, air and river transportation in the new century.

Chongqing plans to invest about 45 billion yuan (about US$5.3 billion) to build a large network of expressways that will connect with more large coastal and inland cities in the next five to six years, according to local officials.

With nine expressways currently under construction, Chongqing will see the completion of the 75-kilometer-long first ring road this year, and is preparing to build the 195-kilometer-long second ring road.

Chongqing will also soon start to construct the railway leading to Huaihua, Hunan Province, and will finally see seven main railways running across its territory.

Chongqing, together with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, invested 200 million yuan (US$24.1 million) to build the runway for the Jiangbei International Airport, one of the 10 largest airports in China, and plans to invest more money to construct a new building and other subsidiary facilities for the airport.

The airport is expected to deal with 60,600 flights and handle 800 million passengers each year when these projects are finished.

As for river transportation, Chongqing is speeding up the upgrading of infrastructure facilities in ports and docks along the Yangtze River, and will focus on developing container transportation.

Chongqing will also build the Baishawan Port in the Three Gorges Reservoir, which may enable ships of 10,000 deadweight tons to reach Chongqing in all seasons of the year.

When the transportation network is complete, Chongqing will play a more significant role in China's efforts to develop the vast western region.

(Eastday.com 01/31/2001)