31 years ago today, on September 16, 1994 (August 11, 1994 in the lunar calendar), the double-track Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway was paved. On September 16th, 1994, the national key construction project of the Eighth Five-Year Plan-Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway double-track was paved ahead of schedule. The State Council sent a telegram to congratulate the double-track paving of Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway. The congratulatory message said that the completion of the double-track Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway is another great achievement in China's railway construction. Its completion will greatly improve the transportation conditions in northwest China, and is of great significance to promoting economic development, social progress and strengthening national unity in northwest China and even the whole country. This project was approved by the State Council in March 1991 and started in September 1992. Tens of thousands of road-building troops braved the scorching sun, fought the severe cold, crossed the desert, crossed the Gobi Desert, opened up the Tianshan Mountains and crossed the Daban Swamp. It took only two years to complete this 1,622-kilometer double-track railway with good quality and quantity, creating another miracle in the history of railway construction in China. Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway is double-track, starting from Wuwei South Station in the east and reaching Urumqi in the west, passing through Jinchang, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Hami, Turpan and other important western towns. 151 large and medium-sized bridges were erected along the whole line, 12 tunnels were drilled, 1,622 kilometers of tracks were laid on the main line and 131 kilometers of tracks were laid on the station line. Its completion has increased the transportation capacity of Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway from 12 million tons in 1992 to 30 million tons, and it can reach more than 50 million tons in the long term. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the double-track construction of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway. Premier Li Peng, Vice Premier Zhu Rongji and other leaders of the State Council listened to reports many times and gave important instructions. At the paving ceremony held this afternoon, Vice Premier Zou Jiahua, on behalf of the State Council, expressed warm congratulations and heartfelt thanks to all the workers who have contributed to the construction of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang double-track, as well as to the governments and people of all ethnic groups along the line for their concern and support. At present, 1,024 kilometers of lines have been put into operation. It is expected that by the end of June next year, the double-track Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway will be fully put into operation. By then, the "bottleneck" of railway transportation in Northwest China is expected to be greatly alleviated.