China will build and renovate 1.2 million kilometers of highways in rural area during the 11th five year plan period (2006-2010), said Weng Mengyong, vice minister of communications on Saturday.

The vice minister said roads paved with tar or cement shall be built to link up 7,530 townships and 89,970 administrative villages in the said period.

By the end of 2010, all the townships in the country shall be accessed by paved roads, he said.

Weng said the communications authorities at all levels should act according to their capability and strive to realize good and fast construction to make due contributions in building new socialist countryside.

In February, the ministry vowed to invest 24.8 billion yuan (3.1 billion U.S. dollars) collected through motor vehicle purchase tax in rural road construction this year, nearly 10 percent up from last year, to boost development of the countryside.

Last year, a total investment of 151.3 billion yuan was put into the building and reconstruction of 325,000 kilometers of rural roads, both hitting record highs.