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Road construction and urbanization are the key projects to be carried out over the next five to 10 years for strategic development in Shaanxi, an inland province in Northwest China.

"By the end of 2010, Shaanxi's arterial highway should be over 3,010 kilometres, matching the level of East China's fast-developing regions," said Cheng Andong, governor of the Shaanxi provincial government.

According to a road construction plan designed by the central government, Shaanxi should have six roads which are listed as the State arterial highways with a total of 3,010 kilometres, the governor said.

"At present, 676 kilometres of these planned highways have been completed, and by the end of 2005, Shaanxi will have more than 1,800 kilometres of highways which will link 10 municipalities and 57 counties of the province," Cheng said.

With Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi, as the centre, the highways will link the capitals of neighbouring provinces such as Lanzhou, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Taiyuan, Yinchuan, Shijiazhuang, Wuhan and Chongqing Municipality. These destinations will only take one day to reach from Xi'an, the governor said.

Investment in highway construction this year will reach 1.132 billion yuan (US$136.4 million, Cheng said.

By the year 2005, Shaanxi's total length of roads will stand at 48,000 kilometres, making it easier for people to reach their chozen provinces, Cheng said.

In addition, by 2005, the length of railways in Shaanxi will reach 3,500 kilometres, increasing by 751 kilometres annually. Around 157 air routes will be established, Cheng said.

The province will concentrate on establishing three city groups with Xi'an, Baoji and Weinan as the gravitation in the future.