Nov. 11 – Work began on Sunday on a high-speed rail link between Nanning and Guangzhou that will cut travel time between the two south China cities from almost 13 hours to three.

The 577.1 kilometer-long route, 61 percent of which will run through Guangxi, will allow trains to run at up to 200 kilometers per hour Xinhua reports. It is scheduled to be completed in an estimated 54 months and cost about RMB41 billion, according Chen Boshi, chief of Nanning Railways Administration.

The cost will be shared by the Ministry of Railways, Guangdong Province and Guangxi, said Chen.

The governor of Guangdong province, Huang Huahua, said he hoped the link would advance the goal of a Pan-Pearl River Delta and help connect southeast China to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Liu said the project was significant, as it came amid the world financial crisis and thus would help boost domestic demand.