Xinhua reports that Beijing Capital International Airport has invited domestic and foreign investors to bid for a RMB600 million hotel complex near the airport.

This is the first time that a state-owned giant has asked private investors to get involved in such a project, the report said.

The complex will be made up of a four-star hotel, an economy hotel and a business building for domestic and foreign carriers, according to Liu Guixian, general manager of Beijing Capital Airport Tourism Co. Ltd.

The hotel complex, due to be completed within 20 months, is part of a RMB30 billion renovation program for China's top international airport in terms of history and handling capacity.

The complex will be situated next to Terminal No. 3, which is under construction and expected to be completed by 2007.

A new expressway and a metro line linking the new terminal and the city center are also due to be finished at the same time.

The bid period is scheduled to end by December, Liu said.