Beijing started the construction Thursday of its satellite town, Shunyi, in the eastern part of the metropolis.

The new town is located to the north of the already-existing Shunyi District. It is planned to cover 108 square kilometers. Shunyi planners estimate that the city will have a population of 700,000 to 900,000 when completed, including room for future development, said Sheng Deli, director of the town construction committee.

The new town will become an independent and complete small city, developing manufacturing, logistics, international exhibition and sports businesses for Beijing, the official said.

"It will be the core of the future urbanization in northeast Beijing."

The area of 9.77 square kilometers, which is started building Thursday is about 32 kilometers away from downtown Beijing and ten kilometers from the Beijing Capital International Airport, where the aquatic sports center and horsemanship gymnasiums of the 2008 Olympics will be situated.

The director said apart from Shunyi, Beijing, approved by the State Council at the beginning of this year, will build another two satellite towns of Tongzhou and Yizhuang.

The municipal government is making the building plans and the two other towns will be under construction soon, Sheng said.

Source: Xinhua