Various government departments and construction units should make concerted efforts to ensure construction safety and quality in the Qinghai-Tibet railway, Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan said at a recent State Council meeting.

"The year 2005 will be significant for the railway construction, as it matters great much to the completion of the entire project," Zeng said after listening to a report on building the railway.

China launched the Qinghai-Tibet plateau railway project in 2001. With a total investment of 26.2 billion yuan (US$3.16 billion), the railway is scheduled to be put into operation in 2007.

So far, the main body of roadbed, bridges, culverts and tunnels has been roughly completed, and related housing, electric power and telecommunications facilities have been launched, Zeng said.

"The railway is expected to be completed ahead of schedule," he said.

Till this month, 738 km of track has been laid, and it has extended to Gulu Town in Nagqu County in northern Tibet. The 1,142-km line runs at an average altitude of over 4,000 meters.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2004)