In 2004, 10 key projects with a total investment of about 80 billion yuan will begin to be built in China's western region, unveiled the Office for Western Region Development of the State Council and State Development and Reform Commission recently.

The 10 projects are as follows:

---Trunk road in the western region;

---Southern segment and Dali-lijiang segment for Luoyang-zhanjiang railway;

---Airports for flights around the western region;

---Shannxi-Beijing gas pipeline;

---West-to-east power distribution project including Panan Power Plant in Guizhou;

---Key coal mines in the western region;

---Infrastructure construction in western rural areas;

---Development of speciality industries in the western region;

---Popularization of 9-year compulsory education and eliminating illiteracy among the youth in the western region;

---Health care facilities in place in western rural areas.

By People's Daily Online