XI'AN, China, Nov. 12 -- Construction of a "nano sci-tech industrial park" has begun in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the China Daily reported yesterday. Xi'an city, an ancient capital of China, is emerging as a high-tech center in the country's western region, it said. The Xi'an Nano Sci-Tech Industrial Park, designed and funded by the Xi'an Lu Tong Science and Technology Co., will cost 1.2 billion yuan (US$144.56 million) to build and is expected to be completed in two years, the newspaper reported. A Taiwan investment is also involved in the project, it said. "One of the few nano industrial parks in the country, the Xi'an park covers an area of 1,000 mu (around 67 hectares), 170 mu (around 11.3 hectares) of which will be developed in the first phase of construction at an expense of 180 million yuan (US$21.69 million)," the article said. "Once completed, the park will be able to accommodate more than 10 high-tech enterprises, which can generate a total of 550 million yuan (around US$66.27 million) in annual industrial output value and turn in 180 million yuan (around US$21.69 million) in taxes and revenues," The research and development center in the park has already launched 20 programs in the field of nanotechnology and superconductor research, including the development of nano-filmed glass for construction purposes and a superconductor heating device for agricultural and mining applications, the China Daily reported. For more information, visit: www.chinadaily.com.cn