BEIJING – Chinas government has approved construction of 25 subway projects in a new move to stimulate its sluggish economy.

The projects announced Thursday by the national planning commission are budgeted at a total of 840 billion yuan ($133 billion) for 23 subway lines, with spending on two others not disclosed.

The communist government is injecting money into the economy through higher spending on building subways, airports and other public works in hopes of reversing a slowdown that pushed growth to a three-year low of 7.6 percent in the second quarter.

The projects include subway lines in cities throughout the country, including Shanghai in the east, Taiyuan in central China and Guangzhou in the south.