KIEV, May 19  -- Two Chinese companies and the city of Kiev have signed a deal to build a fourth subway line in the capital city of Ukraine, the city said Friday.

China Railway International Group and China Pacific Construction Group will be the managing partner and contractor of the project, responsible for engineering, procurement and construction.

The deal also includes a provision that the two Chinese companies will assist the Ukrainian government in raising funds for the project in Chinese financial institutions.

The Kiev City State Administration has estimated that the project to build the 16-km-long fourth subway line in the Ukrainian capital will cost about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Kiev currently has three subway lines with a total length of 67.6 km.