Premier Li visits construction site of Sichuan-Tibet railway

Premier Li Keqiang visited the construction site of the Sichuan-Tibet railway in Lhokha, Tibet autonomous region, on July 26.

The Premier walked into a mountain tunnel, which is 3,500 meters above sea level, checked the construction quality and design, and demanded careful work. He also told the workers to take care of themselves as they work at such a high altitude.

The Sichuan-Tibet railway, after its completion, will become another transportation artery that links Tibet and other parts of China, after the Qinghai-Tibet railway, the Premier said.

It will not only close the space and development gap between Tibet and other parts of China, but also narrow the psychological distance, he added.

He said the Sichuan-Tibet railway is of great significance to the development and ecological protection of Tibet; it is not only the hope of the Tibetan people, but also the wish of the entire country.

The railway is a key project during the 13th Five-Year Plan period in China. With a total investment of 270 billion yuan (US$39.84 billion), the project now is ready for full construction. As an effective investment project, the railway will bring about significant economic and social benefits, the Premier said.

Because China faces unbalanced development and backward infrastructure in the central and western regions, efforts should be made to accelerate infrastructure construction in these regions through expanding effective investments to bridge their gap with the eastern areas, he added.

He also expected the railway workers to build an outstanding project that can withstand the test of time.