Western regions to enhance links with train system

China's western regions will count on an enhanced railroad network to stimulate trade with neighboring countries to gain an edge over coastal provinces competing for infrastructure, labor and export deals.

About 78 percent of China's 800 billion yuan ($130 billion) in investment will be spent in its western and central regions this year, or 86 percent of the country's new rail facilities in 2014.

Luo Renjian, a researcher at the Institute of Transportation Research of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that with Asian countries aiming to boost exports, many have realized that better rail connections could have meaningful economic and political implications.