A panel consisting of several high-ranking officials has been formed to coordinate the construction of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, Economic Observer reported (in Chinese). Zeng Peiyan, who is expected to step down as vice premier in coming months following an announcement of his retirement at the party congress last week, was appointed as director of the panel and Ma Kai, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, will be the panel's vice director. Other members include ministers from various of state ministries and the governors of the six provinces through which the railway will pass. The railway, which will be 1,318 kilometers long when it is completed in 2010, will reduce travel time between Shanghai and Beijing from 14 hours to 5 hours.
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