Xi'AN, Shaanxi - Two opening ceremonies for the major projects at Xixian New Area and for the start-up zone of coordinated science and technology resources reform demonstration base at Fengdong New City were held on Thursday in Xianyang and Xi'an, marking the official unveiling of the implementation of the "100 10-million-yuan projects" and the construction of "modern idyllic metropolis".

A total of 26 projects were collectively started Thursday, covering four categories of infrastructure facility, industrial projects, ecological environment and people's livelihood projects with a total investment of 46.138 billion yuan. The projects will lay a solid foundation for the construction of the Xixian New Area.

In his speech at the ceremony, Zhao Zhengyong, governor of Shaanxi province, said the Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone is key to the national strategy of western development while Xi'an International Metropolis is the core for the development of Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone.

"The integration of Xi'an and Xianyang is an important path on the course of building Xi'an into an international metropolis," Zhao said. "The construction of Xixian New Area is key to the integration of Xi'an and Xianyang."

The collectively start of the construction for these projects is significant for the improvement of infrastructure, optimization of ecological environment, enhancement of habitat conditions and coordination of science and technology resources in the Xixian New Area, Zhao said.

It marks the development of the Xixian New Area has officially turned into the stage of overall development from general planning, he said.

It is learnt that Xixian New Area is implementing its "One hundred?10-million-yuan projects". Namely, it will realize an annual investment of 10 billion yuan in the first three years, an annual investment of 100 billion yuan in the first five years and realize an accumulated investment of 1 trillion yuan in 10 years.