URUMQI, Jan. 16 -- Construction of nine new airports will start or be completed in 2017 in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to authorities Monday.

"Two new airports in counties of Shache and Ruoqiang will be completed and put into operation, while the airports of Korla City and Hotan City will enter operation after expansion," said Zhang Chunlin, director of the region's reform and development commission.

Zhang said that expansion or construction of the other five airports in the region would also begin in the year.

Preparatory work on a further seven new airports is also ongoing.

Xinjiang currently has 18 airports, the most of any province in China.