China is eyeing total investment of more than 200 billion yuan ($31.45 billion) in 240 projects in a pilot economic zone on the border with Laos, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing the government of Southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The Mengla economic zone in Yunnan, covering an area of 4,500 square kilometers, was approved by the central government in July, according to State media. It abuts the far northern part of Laos.
A statement on the Yunnan provincial government's news website late Monday said that the 240 projects will cover areas including energy, education and transport.
In 2014, China offered more than $20 billion in loans and aid to Southeast Asia to improve infrastructure and for other projects.
Railways to the border, as part of a link into Laos, and an airport for Mengla are all expected to be up and running by 2020, according to media reports.
Long-term plans call for a railway connecting Yunnan Province down to Singapore.
