Chinese premier stresses rail construction in west

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LANZHOU, Aug. 20 -- Premier Li Keqiang stressed the importance of railway construction to promote development in China's western regions during a three-day visit to Gansu Province.

Railway construction in western China is important for transferring industry from the country's eastern regions to western areas, which will boost employment, relieve poverty, and solve uneven regional development, Li said.

Efforts should be made to ensure the quality of railway projects and construction workers' safety, Li said during a tour to Gansu in northwest China from Aug. 17 to 19.

China has vowed to invest a total of 660 billion yuan (106.45 billion U.S. dollars) in railway construction this year and plans to bring the country's operating railway network to more than 100,000 kilometers by the end of the year.

Li urged local governments and relevant departments to better implement the central government's policies, which are designed to stabilize growth, readjust growth patterns, promote reforms and improve livelihoods.

Local governments should provide more support to small businesses, which Li said are the engine of China's job growth.

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