The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will assist the Chinese government in preparing urban transport improvement projects in five cities in northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Sources from the ADB's China office said on Saturday that a grant of 700,000 U.S. dollars would be provided to study the project.

ADB's assistance is expected to start in December 2007 and last for six months, said the office.

The Chinese government has also applied to ADB for a 100-million-U.S. dollar loan for the project, which involves building 168 kilometers of roads, eight bridges totaling 340 meters in length, said Amy Leung, principal urban development specialist of ADB's East Asia Department.

"The project will improve local public infrastructure, environmental protection and the standard of living in the five cities," said Leung.