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China is expected to unveil regulations within the year to subsidize its small and medium-sized airports and regional air routes to meet the rising demand for air travel.

The government plans to offer subsidies to airports that each handle less than five million passengers a year, according to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC).

The subsidies would cover 80 percent of the country's airports, the CAAC said, adding that 19 large airports would not be entitled to any handouts.

The airports in the central and western parts of China are expected to receive higher subsidies than those in the eastern regions and the smaller the airport, the higher the subsidy.

Air routes within a province and those shorter than 600 km are also expected to be subsidized.

But the CAAC said the subsidies would not cover air routes between the metropolises of Beijing, Shanghai and GuangZhou and between some hot tourist destinations.

The civil aviation authorities will announce the specific subsidy amounts that are aimed at boosting regional air travel, the CAAC stated.

China's State Council, or cabinet, has authorized the extension of the levy term for the airports construction fee to 2010, according to CAAC.