China opened 4,719km of expressways in 2009 and started construction on an additional 16,000km network, said Li Shenglin, Minister of Communications.

According to a national highway plan unveiled in 2005, China will establish a national highway length of 100,000km by 2020, on a par with the US today. Mr Li said the target could now be achieved ahead of schedule. The country’s highway network totalled 65,000km at the end of last year.