China expects to have 140 million automobiles plying its roads
by 2020, seven times more than now, fueling demand for
transportation infrastructure and services, state media
reports.
Li Xinghua, deputy director of the Communication Ministry's
Comprehensive Planning Department, predicted that China's auto
population would eventually reach around 250 million, or about 150
cars per 1,000 people.
According to China Daily, government statistics show that China
produced a record four million autos in 2003, when the number of
private cars grew by 80 percent thanks to the country's strong
economic advance and growing middle class.
It is estimated that this year's production will top five
million units, making China the world's third-largest auto
manufacturer after the United States and Japan.
That demand has been coupled with the unveiling of ambitious
expansion plans by both international and domestic auto
players.
Li said the fast growth of the auto industry was putting
increasing pressure on transportation infrastructure and fixing the
discrepancy was the top task for the ministry.
Chinese vice minister of communications Weng Mengyong said his
office would adopt "substantial, effective approaches" in the
construction of major national freeways to connect most Chinese
cities to cope with the number of cars.
He predicted that the current construction of highways between
provinces in western China, as well as those in the Yangtze River
Delta in the east and Pearl River Delta in the south would be
completed by 2010.
Statistics from the ministry show that China has already built a
30,000 kilometer (18,600 mile) network of highways, the second
longest in the world.
Market analysts cited by Xinhua News Agency said China was in
the launch phase of another round of economic growth and the rapid
development of the auto industry would be a major driving
force.?????
(China Daily September 5, 2004)