A massive border railway along the border of China, Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will be built in northeast China, officials have announced.

The 1,380-kilometer-long track will provide a "golden" transportation passage from the remote inland areas of northeast China - the nation's old industrial heartland - to the outside world.

It will range from the Suifenhe River in the north of Heilongjiang Province, passing Tumen and Tonghua of Jilin Province, to Benxi, Dandong and Zhuanghe of Liaoning Province, and to Dalian in the south, a key harbor of the Bohai Sea.

Most of the places the railway runs through boast quite rich and varied resources, such as lumber and minerals, but with lagging economies.

And the shortage of efficient transportation lines to the outside world has been a long-existing problem for these inland and remote areas that have long needed a shot in the arm to boost trade and economic luster.

The line should be completed in 15 years, according to the Ministry of Railways, and will connect more than 10 cities and 30 counties in the eastern part of northeast China, with an area up to 220,000 square kilometers and a population of 18 million.

Meanwhile, it will allow 11 independent railway lines in northeast China, to finally be linked.

The railway is expected to enhance the export of inland resources and products of Northeast China to the other areas of China and overseas markets.

It will also greatly promote land border trade between China and Russia, the Republic of Korea and DPRK.

(China Daily February 4, 2004)