"Most of the places the railway runs through boast quite rich and varied resources, such as lumber and minerals, but with lagging economies," it said.
China is trying to revive the downtrodden region, dubbed the "rust belt" for its run-down factories, by pumping in funds to set up new industries and tap natural resources.
"The shortage of efficient transportation lines to the outside world has been a long-existing problem for those inland and remote areas which have long needed a shot in the arm to boost trade and economic luster," the newspaper said.
China has also been seeking stronger trade ties with Russia. In January to November of 2003, the latest period for which data is available, China exported $5.4 billion worth of goods to Russia, up 68 percent from a year earlier.
Imports from Russia rose an annual 16.5 percent in the period to $8.9 billion.
Russian Railways Co. said last month it would be able to ship 240,000 barrels, or 12 million tons, a day of crude from oil giant Yukos to China by 2006.
Yukos has been seeking to build a pipeline to China but the Russian government has yet to make a final decision.
The planned railway would take 15 years to complete and would link 10 major cities and bring improved transport to 18 million people, the newspaper said.
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