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World's highest airport planned

Beijing: China plans to build the world's highest airport as part of a 100-billion yuan surge of investment in Tibet in the next four years, the state media reported on Tuesday. The funds — almost 40 per cent more than what was spent on Tibet's infrastructure in the past decade — were hailed as a sign of the Central Government's commitment to raising the living standards of poor communities. The investment will be spent on 180 projects, including the construction of an airport at Ngari, at an altitude of 4,334 metres. Rail links will also be improved. The Golmud-Lhasa line will be extended to Shigatse, Tibet's second-largest city. The regional Government's Vice-Chairman, Hao Peng, was quoted as saying that the investment would be tilted towards herding regions ``so farmers and herders and the grassroots population will fully enjoy the fruits of reform and development.'' —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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World's highest airport planned

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