China's State Council has approved two trillion yuan -- that's about 300 billion US dollars -- for investment in railway construction. That's essential to meet the aims of the mid-term and long-term Railway Network Plan that was issued four years ago by the Ministry of Railways.

According to the plan, the country would need two trillion yuan for railway construction between 2004 and 2020. So far, more than one trillion yuan has been injected into the ongoing nationwide construction. Through the initiative, China's total length of railway is expected to stretch 160,00 kilometers by the end of 2010. And that's expected to increase to 192,000 kilometers by 2020.

Many analysts say the investment will bring about a railway construction boom in China during the coming years. Since new opportunities are expected to emerge, total investment over the 17-year period could potentially exceed the current two trillion yuan target.

Meanwhile, the National Development and Reform Commission says the country's highway system has almost been completed. But the railway network is still lagging behind. The commission notes that the country's present railway network can NOT meet growing demand for both traveling and freight.

(CCTV October 28, 2008)