The Chinese government is planning to invest CNY14.4 billion (US$2.1bn) in the construction or expansion of 17 airports in the remote northwestern region of Xinjiang this year, Xinhua reports.

The funding will include developments in key cities such as Urumqi and Kashgar, in an effort to position the region as the getaway between China and Central Asia. In terms of new airports, the first to be completed will be Shache Airport, in the southwest of the region.

Xinjiang’s largest hub and gateway to the world, Urumqi Diwopu International Airport (pictured), will add two runways and a new 450,000m² terminal building, boosting its capacity to 48 million passengers per year.