Beijing, which is striving for the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, has invested huge funds on infrastructure this year, especially on improving the city's traffic and the protection of environment.

By the end of October, Beijing had invested more than 22.8 billion yuan in infrastructure construction, surging 11.1 percent over the same period last year.

The city will broaden 70 kilometers of road in the urban area while building or broadening 300 kilometers of highway in the suburbs, including a 42 kilometer-long expressway before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Beijing will increase its water supply capacity by 250,000 cubic meters and sewage treatment capacity by 200,000 cubic meters on a daily basis.

Beijing will also have 100,000 more natural gas users, and by the end of the year, the city will consume 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas on an annual basis.

(People's Daily 12/06/2000)