Reporter: How about highway construction in western China?

Huang: China has 12 provinces and autonomous regions in its west with a territory of 6.882 million square kilometers or 71.7 percent of the country's total. Comparing 52 percent of expressways built in China's east as reported by the end of 2001, roads built in this part of the country are mostly at a poor low level: Asphalt road merely makes an insignificant part. Most are roads raising big clouds of dust during fine days and would become all muddy in a rainy weather. Medium- or second-class roads make a mere 27 percent, at a level of 12.5 percentage points less than the national average and 30.7 percentage points less than those in China's east. This is particularly so with those at a county level, not to say those down below of poor accessibility.

Reporter: What highways are going to be built in the country's west this year?

Huang: We are just in a year crucial for highway construction in the west. We'll have our construction focusing on a state trunk line, 8 inter-province lines and 25,000 km of highways at county level, greater road coverage and greater accessibility of highways to every rural nook. The target is set at a total length of around 40,000km, including 2,500km expressways.

Reporter: How about inter-county asphalt road construction?