CHANGCHUN -- Plans for a high-speed rail link between Hunchun in Jilin Province and Vladivostok in Russia are taking shape, local authorities said on Monday.

According to Jiang Chaoliang, governor of Jilin Province, the new railway will boost trade between Jilin and Russia, and cooperation between the province and northwest Asia.

Hunchun, on the border with Russia, is only about 180 kilometers from Vladivostok, but it takes more than five hours to travel one-way by car. More than 1,000 Russians pass through Hunchun every day.