China's Ministry of Railways will invest RMB 100 million (US$13 million) in the next 10 years to accelerate the construction of railways in southern Fujian province across from Taiwan.
Specifically, the money is earmarked for upgrades of the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway and the Fuzhou-Xiamen Railway, and to start construction on the Xiangtang-Putian Railway, the Longyan-Xiamen Railway and the Xiamen-Shenzhen Railway.
This phase of the ministerial plan to accelerate development of port-related railways in Fujian province comes after a full survey of coastal ports and railways in the area, an official of Fujian Development and Reform Commission told Xinhua.
In a summary of the negotiations, signed by the Ministry of Railways and the Fujian provincial government, it was agreed that central government will support rail construction as part a national scheme to develop Taiwan Strait trade, said Xinhua.
The ministry also agreed to speed construction of seven port railways including the Xiaocuo, the Meizhouwan North Bank, the Jinagyin, the Kemen, the Luoyuanwan North Bank, the Gangwei and the Baima railways.
The Nanchang Railway Bureau will act as representative of the Ministry of Railways, the report said.
Nanchang Railway Bureau and Fujian Government pledged to keep port railways paced to that of other rail development so that connections can be made to improve Fujian's port transport.
Fujian now has four inter-provincial railways in operation, including the Yingtan-Xiamen Railway, the Hengfeng-Nanping Railway, the Meizhou-Kanshi Railway and the Ganzhou-Longyan Railway.
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