Reporters learned from Qinghai Economic Working Video Conference that the direct high-speed railway from Xining to Chengdu would be initiated to construct in 2016.

　　It is introduced that Xining-Chengdu Railway has been listed among the national medium and long term railway network planning with the preliminary designed speed of 200 km per hour and total mileage of 800 km. This double line railway, after completion, will link Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan, passing through many less developed regions and ethnic minority zones.

　　The Tibetan region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Southern Gansu is sparsely populated and less social development with harsh climates and scarce resources. Chengdu and surrounding cities are one of the most important supply places for food, human resources, and services for these Tibetan regions. These places have close regional trade and personnel exchanges.

　　It is learned that Xining-Chengdu Railway will link these regions, improve substantial transportation capacities, and lower transportation cost. The railway will reduce the period from Chengdu to Xining from current 20 hours to about 5 hours by train. Meanwhile, convenient channels linking Lanzhou-Xijiang High-Speed Railway, Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Chengdu-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway with Xining-Chengdu Railway will accelerate the local exchanges and integration between Northwest China and inland and Eastern China.