Preparatory work has officially started on the west-east gas pipeline project, China's second-largest infrastructure project after the Three Gorges Dam Project.

Minister of the State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan announced the formation of a leading group for the project at a national conference that concluded on March 26.

The conference has signaled the commencement of a drive to develop the relatively-backward western part of the country.

Relevant areas and departments are required to complete the project's planning and design work within a year, and launch construction in the first half of 2001.

Zeng said the people of Xinjiang will greatly benefit from the project.

During its first stage, the 4,200-km pipeline is expected to provide some 12 billion cubic meters of gas annually for industrial and domestic use to several provinces.