The new projects will include the construction of water control facilities, railways, highways, hydropower stations and projects related to energy and urban planning, reported the People's Daily on Tuesday. Infrastructure construction and ecological development programs in rural areas will also be included.

Two railways will be built, the first, from Wanzhou in Chongqing municipality to Yichang in central China's Hubei Province, and the second, from Suining in west China's Sichuan Province to Chongqing. City infrastructure construction in Tibet and in Xinjiang Autonomous Region is also an important component, according to People's Daily.

Some of the funds will be used to convert 7.1 million ha of farm land into woodland and to convert 6.7 million ha of over-grazed land into grassland in the western region.

The investment will also help to ensure the supply of potable water for eight million people in western rural areas. Energy supply will also be enhanced in rural areas of western China.

China has invested over 600 billion yuan (US$72.6 billion) in 36 key projects since it launched the western development campaign in 2000.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2003)