China's top economic planner has approved the construction of a new airport in Yutian, a remote county in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The project investment totals about 760 million yuan ($112 million), according to a statement posted on July 15 on the website of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The NDRC will invest 228 million yuan ($33.1 million) in the project, while the Civil Aviation Administration of China will earmark 380 million yuan ($55.2 million). Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will provide the remaining 152 million yuan ($22.1 million).

Airport density is relatively low in Xinjiang, which covers about one sixth of the Chinese territory. "The construction of the airport will promote local social and economic growth, and boost tourist resources development," the statement said.

The civil airport is designed to handle annual throughput of 180,000 passengers and 400 tonnes of cargo.

The airport will have a 3,200-meter runway, a 3,000-square-meter terminal building, six aprons, and facilities for air traffic control, power and fuel supplies and fire fighting.

Yutian county, on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, is a major stopping off point on the ancient Silk Road. The county is 1,300 km away from the regional capital Urumqi.