Five years into its Western Development drive, China has greatly improved transportation facilities in its western regions with large investments in the construction of railways, roads and airports.

So far, China has constructed 75,000 kilometers of highways and over 2,000 kilometers of railways and built or enlarged thirty airports in the west of the country.

The improvement in transportation infrastructure has also boosted the development of tourism and the mineral industry, while also making it more convenient for people in the region to travel.

Moreover, China plans to link all the towns and villages with roads and cover more areas with railways in the western part of the country.

(CRI November 20, 2004)