China approves multi-billion-yuan transport projects

China's top economic planner has approved local government spending of over 100 billion yuan (15.3 billion U.S. dollars) on two transport projects.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved the construction of five urban rail lines in east China's Qingdao, with the total length reaching 182 km at an estimated cost of 107 billion yuan.

The agency has also given permission for a 65.8-km expressway section in east China's Fujian Province. The project is expected to cost 8.7 billion yuan, the NDRC said.

The government plans to spend 4.7 trillion yuan on transport infrastructure by 2019.