The Asian Development Bank is to loan US$100m to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for urban improvements designed to spur sustainable growth and improve the environment. The announcement was made prior to the recent outbreaks of violence in the region.

The loan will be used to build or upgrade more than 100km of roads, install traffic signals and other road safety systems, and to construct public toilets and other sanitation facilities.

Xinhua noted that Xinjiang has some of China’s highest poverty rates and that poor urban infrastructure has deterred investment, degraded the environment and limited growth opportunities.