About 100 kilometers of expressway have been completed this year in China's capital, equivalent to half of the total amount in the past 14 years, government statistics officials said.

Beijing will add ten expressways to its road system in the following decade and the total mileage will hit 630 kilometers through 2005, according to an overall blueprint approved by the State Council.

Beijing now has about 216 kilometers of expressway. The country 's first highway opened to traffic in 1986.

(Xinhua News Agency 10/18/2001)