China's Ministry of Railways on Monday denied reports of plans for four new international lines which had been suggested would include an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet link with India.

 

Ministry spokesman, Wang Yongping, told Xinhua that media reports on the proposals were not listed in China's medium to long-term railway plans.

 

Some media outlets, quoting an official with the Leading Group under the State Council for Development of the Western Regions, reported that work on the lines would get underway during the 11th Five-Year Guidelines period (2006-2010).

 

The reports stated the plans were: an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway to India; a route linking southwest China's Yunnan Province with southeast and southern Asia; a line from northeast China to Russia and another from Xinjiang into Russia.

 

Wang said the ministry had confirmed with the office of the Leading Group that it had not released information but a reporter had quoted from a paper written by an official working in the office.

 

Wang acknowledged that the medium and long-term plans set specific targets for railway construction by the year 2020.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2006)