Zhang Guangqin, vice minister of the Commission of Science,
Technology and Industry for National Defense, said at a press
conference held by the State Council Information Office on Thursday
that China has become the world's third largest ship builder, after
Japan and South Korea, in the last 20 years after the reform and
opening-up policy was implemented.
He predicted that China will achieve more than 25 percent of
world market share by 2010. By 2020,China's shipbuilding skills
will reach or come close to world-class standards.
Growth of the industry
China's shipbuilding capacity exceeded Germany's for the first
time in 1995, catapulting it to the?third place
behind?South Korea?and Japan, where it has been for the
past consecutive?10 years.
In the five years from 2000 to 2004, output increased by about
26 percent per year. In 2004, China built vessels totaling more
than 8.8 million dead weight tonnage (dwt), 14 percent of total
world output.
Zhang said that China is expected to churn out a total output
volume of more than 10 million dwt this year or 18 percent of total
world output.
Enhanced innovation and technology
China is capable of building oil tankers that can carry up to
300,000 tons of crude oil, super-large container ships that can
carry up to 8,000 containers, floating production, storage and
offloading units (FPSO) and naval platforms, Zhang said.
China also has the capabilities to design and build most types
of vessels that conform to international standards. However, there
are some classes of vessel that China does not currently have the
capabilities to build, for example, luxury liners.
Further, China's technical know-how in relation to products and
systems including naval diesel engines and deck machines is of
international standards.
Growing export market
More than 70 percent of the vessels made in China are bound for
export to countries including the US, Japan, Germany, France and
Canada. In 2004, China's ship exports totaled about 5.6 million
dwt, in deals worth about US$3.16 billion.
International cooperation and continued
growth
In the years since 1978 when China implemented its reform and
opening-up policy,?it has enjoyed an influx of foreign
shipbuilding design and technology skills, both through private
sector economic cooperation and exchange, and government-developed
mechanisms with the EU, South Korea and Japan.
In 1949, there were some 20 shipbuilding corporations in China,
most joint government-private enterprises. Today, there are about
700 shipbuilding corporations, 100 industry research institutes,
and 70,000 professionals.
(China.org.cn by Chen Lin, June 17, 2005)