China has approved plans to build four civilian airports in the south-west and north-east of the country worth a total of $200 million as part of a drive to meet growing air traffic demand, state media said on Friday.
The National Development and Reform Commission, the top planning agency, has given the go-ahead for two airports in Sichuan province and another one in Yunnan province, both in the country's south-west, the official Xinhua news agency said.
A fourth would be built in Heilongjiang province in the north-east, it said. The four airports would cost a total of 1.6 billion yuan ($200 million).
The Kangding and Leshan airports in Sichuan would cost 950 million and 150 million yuan, respectively, Xinhua said. The Tengchong airport in Yunnan would cost 321 million yuan, while the price tag for the Daqing airport in Heilongjiang would be 197 million yuan. China currently has 142 civilian airports. State media reported earlier this year that the country aims to spend 140 billion yuan to build 44 more airports by 2010 and to upgrade existing facilities.