A trial train runs on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway beside the Cuona Lake in Anduo County, Tibet, June 20, 2006. Qinghai-Tibet Railway will begin trial operations on July 1, 2006.[Xinhua]

According to the Trade Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region, the new railway will help step up trade with Nepal and India, and turn Tibet into the frontier for southern Asian economic communication.

Yadong is one of the major border towns in Tibet. Although it is located 460 kilometers southwest from the autonomous regional capital, Lhasa, government sources said that the railway would bring more and better goods as well as opportunities to this region.

Lhasa is not the final stop on the railway. Experts have drawn up a blueprint that shows a rail network in the region, with Lhasa at its center. The blueprint shows lines extending into other regions including the border areas of Tibet.

Chinese workers install the sign on the roof of Lhasa Railway Station in Lhasa, Tibet, June 20, 2006. The Chinese characters say "Lhasa." It was the largest railway station alongside Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which will begin trial operations on July 1. [Xinhua]

"The railway will shorten Tibet's distance to the world," said Wei Houkai, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Yadong is 300 kilometers from Bhutan's capital city Thimbu, and 600 kilometers from Dacca, capital of Bangladesh.

Page:

1

2

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)