What's next in the toolbox of Chinese policy makers to support the economy? Look underground for the answer.
Authorities plan to build underground utility corridors in cities across the country and make it a national priority project, according to a statement released Wednesday after an executive meeting of the State Council, China's cabinet.
The tunnels will carry utility lines such as electricity, water, heat and sewer pipes as well as telecommunications and television cables, all collectively laid underground, the statement said.
China's urban underground infrastructure has long lagged behind and faces growing pressure due to extreme weather conditions, said Zou Shinian, a researcher at the State Information Center.
The utility tunnel project will improve city life, but more importantly, it can stimulate investment and create new growth momentum for the economy, Zou said.
China's economy expanded 7 percent year on year in the second quarter of this year, unchanged from the first quarter, but well below previous double-digit growth due to weaker domestic demand and foreign trade.
The economy still faces downside pressure and investment plays a significant role in propping up growth.
However, spending must avoid waste and low-quality growth. Underground infrastructure in Chinese cities, which is mostly outdated and sometimes dangerous, has become a reasonable target for investment.
ROAD ZIPPERS, LETHAL SEWERS
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who presided over the State Council meeting, once called underground infrastructure "the conscience of the city," echoing Victor Hugo's description of the Paris sewers.
Many cities look fancy and glimmering from the outside, but underground infrastructure is their common weakness, Li said during an inspection tour last year.
