BJ-GZ high-speed rail to boost economic growth   

京广高铁今日全线贯通 区域经济发展新引擎

今日，世界上运营里程最长的高速铁路——京广高铁正式全线贯通，北京至广州的时间缩短至8小时左右。

(CNS) -- The newly opened Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway will serve as an engine to promote economic development in the regions along its route, according to Chen Yabing, one of the project's designers, on Tuesday.

It will make travel more convenient, increasing tourism and boosting economic relationships between cities along the route, said Chen.

The logistics industry will also benefit, said Liu Weimin, a professor with Civil Aviation Management Institute of China. The cost of shipping by railway is much lower than by air, making express delivery service faster and cheaper, he added.

The Beijing-Guangzhou line, which is the longest high-speed railway, covers major economic zones in northern, south-central and central China, as well as the Pearl River Delta region. It provides a great opportunity to promote economic growth in the 28 cities it covers, the Ministry of Railways has said.