Track-laying for the Harbin-Yichun High Speed Railway, China's northernmost high-speed railway under construction, was completed on Tuesday.
Stretching 318 kilometers, the railway line connects Harbin, Yichun and other cities in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.
Its seamless steel tracks allow a designed train speed of 250 kilometers per hour while ensuring quiet trips for passengers.
Upon completion, the rail route is expected to reduce the travel time between Harbin and Yichun from the current seven hours to approximately two hours.
Both cities are major tourist attractions, with Harbin celebrated for its annual ice festivals and Yichun known for its forests and wildlife.
To date, China has built the world's largest high-speed railway network, with a total length of around 48,000 kilometers, covering 97 percent of its cities with populations over 500,000.
The country aims to expand its operating high-speed rail tracks to about 60,000 kilometers by 2030.
Track-laying completed for China's northernmost high-speed railway
Track-laying completed for China's northernmost high-speed railway
The White House Office of Management and Budget released its 2027 budget proposal on Friday, which would raise U.S. defense spending to 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars while reducing funding for domestic programs.
The budget plan "builds on the president's vision by continuing to constrain non-defense spending and reform the federal government," according to a document published on the White House website.
At a White House event on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the defense spending as a priority, noting that domestic responsibilities such as health care should be shifted to the states.
"We're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care. You got to let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it, too," Trump said.
Aside from cuts to health programs, the White House budget proposal also includes cuts to refugee resettlement aid, renewable energy projects, university grants and housing programs, among others.
The president's annual budget is often seen as a reflection of the administration's priorities, though Congress ultimately holds the authority over federal spending.
The release of the White House 2027 budget proposal came as Congress remains deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats pushing for immigration enforcement reforms that Republicans refuse to accept. This led to a partial government shutdown that has stretched on for nearly seven weeks.
White House seeks 1.5 trillion USD in defense spending in 2027 budget proposal
