Border city in north China opens airport

The airport of Manzhouli, a city that borders Russia and Mongolia, opened Wednesday in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the local government said.

The new airport, located nine kilometers southwest of the city proper, covers 166,700 square meters with a 2,400-meter long, 45-meter wide runway and a 13,000-square meter parking apron, the government said.

Construction of Manzhouli Airport, a key project for China's Civil Aviation Administration in the 10th Five Year Plan period (2001-2005), involved an investment of 158 million yuan (19 million US dollars) and took about a year.

Officials with the city government said the airport will further Sino-Russian trade and economic cooperation, bolster the development of tourism and logistics in Manzhouli city and increase the port city's throughput in cargo and passenger transport.

Manzhouli has for centuries been a pivotal port for cargo transport between Asia and Europe. It handles 60 percent of the freight between China and Russia.