The launch of a major tire plant takes place in the Changchun Automobile Economic and Technological Development Zone on April 15. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The launch ceremony for a major plant that will manufacture 14.2 million tires was held in Changchun Automobile Economic and Technological Development Zone in Changchun -- capital city of Northeast China’s Jilin province on April 15 -- according to local reports.

Bayanqolu, Party chief of Jilin province, as well as Jing Junhai, governor of the province, attended the ceremony.

The plant is being funded by Chinese group Linglong Tire -- one of the top 20 tire companies in the world -- with investment of 4.89 billion yuan ($690.55 million) and will cover an area of 650,000 square meters in the development zone.

Officials said that when it is completed and goes into operation, the plant will have an annual capacity of 14 million high-performance radial tires and 200,000 tire retreads, with annual sales exceeding 4 billion yuan.

They said that in the current year, Changchun city has made great efforts to accelerate the construction of major projects.

To date, the city has planned 1,146 projects worth 50 million yuan each, to promote the high-quality growth of the metropolis.