The total length of highways in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region will be 27,000 kilometers by 2005, according to the region's development plan for the next five years.

The asphalt pavement will account for 2,700 kilometers of the total.

In addition, 97 percent of Tibet's townships and 74 percent of its villages will have access to gravel roads by 2005.

Tibet is now the only region in China which has no railways. Highways now transport 80 percent of the cargo coming in and going out of Tibet.

Statistics show that by the end of last year, Tibet's highways totaled 25,300 kilometers. About 80 percent of the region's townships and 67 percent of its villages have access to gravel roads.

(Eastday.com.cn 03/25/2001)