China will improve the capacity of its power grids by starting cross-regional grid construction and technological upgrades that meet the country's increasing social and economic demands.

The government plans to invest up 800 million yuan to build up the grids this and next year.

Some officials hope the investment could increase electricity transfers between different regions.

Figures show that last year half of the provinces in China were short of electricity. It is estimated that the country will lose about 31 billion yuan or 3.8 billion US dollars due to power cuts in the next two years.

(CRI.com March 4, 2005)