Follow us on:   

China to invest $103 bn in railways
January 17, 2013, 11:20 am

[Getty Images]

[Getty Images]

China is looking to invest $103.56 billion in 2013 for railway infrastructure.

China Minister of Railways, Sheng Guangzu, announced at a Thursday ministerial meet that 5200 km of new railways would go into operation this year, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Although the amount is slightly up from the 630.98 billion yuan spent in 2012, it is significantly down from 2010’s record investment of 842.65 billion yuan, data from the ministry showed.

The ministry will diversify financing channels by encouraging local governments, enterprises and private investors to participate in railway construction, Sheng said.

A national railway development fund will be established as an investment platform for social and private capital, the minister said.

To attract private capital, the ministry vowed to offer fair treatment for private railway investors in a guideline issued last May.

By 2015, China will have around 120,000 km of railways in operation, including 18,000 km of high-speed railways and an express railway network totaling 40,000 km in length, according to the 12th five-year plan for railway development.

Source: Agencies