LANZHOU -- Northwest China's Gansu Province will build 3,000 kilometers new roads for rural areas in 2019, as part of the province's efforts to fight against poverty.

The provincial government will also renovate and upgrade 2,271 kilometers of rural roads, according to the provincial transportation department.

Last year, Gansu built 3,858 new roads for rural villages and renovated 4,147 rural roads, with 606 more villages connected by roads for the first time, the department said.

The province will concentrate on road construction in the most poverty-stricken areas this year, widen narrow roads and complete the transportation network to bring more convenience for rural residents.