BEIJING — Trying to dispel doubts about the true size and effectiveness of a giant economic stimulus package, Beijing rolled out an eye-popping figure to show its determination to spend its way out of trouble: a $1.4 trillion shopping list of possible investments.
The figure, reported by state television Sunday, represents an avalanche of proposals by local leaders for new roads, airports, railways and other facilities. There was no word on how many might go ahead. But the announcement reflected the government’s focus on assuring companies and consumers about the scale of its response as it tries to shield China from a global slowdown by revving up domestic spending.
The proposed list from provincial authorities gives investors an idea of how part of the government’s $586 billion stimulus package announced Nov. 9 might be spent.
But the newspaper 21st Century Business Herald said many of the projects on the list were already under construction, had been under discussion for some time or were planned but not begun because of a lack of money.
