On April 11, 2015, Xinhua quoted Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as saying at a work conference on regional railway development in Chongqing,  that China aims to invest over 800 billion yuan (130.36 billion U.S. dollars) in railway construction to put more than 8000 kilometers additional railway lines into operation, almost equal to last year's target. He said Railway construction is crucial to steadying growth, economic restructuring and improving public welfare and that China will continue to focus on developing major railway projects in central and western regions to boost growth. He asked local governments to support railway project development and make coordinated efforts to streamline administrative approval and facilitate land acquisition and relocation.