China's port cities are expected to undergo another round of
enlargement in the coming years to further integrate the country
into the global economy, Qian Yongchang, chairman of the China
Communications and Transportation Association, said yesterday.
Qian said the central government has already approved
enlargement plans submitted by the coastal cities of Guangzhou,
Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian and Shenzhen.
The central government also agreed on the enlargement plan of
Tianjin's new coastal area, he said.
"The new plans will not only focus on boosting capacity of cargo
transportation, but also improving industrial and manufacturing
strengths in the regions," said Qian, former minister of
communications.
Qian's announcement was verified by China's new industrial
layout blueprint, which has been drafted by the country's highest
economic planner, the National
Development and Reform Commission.
The new layout plan requires factories whose raw materials are
imported to be located near the port cities, an official with the
commission said.
He said the layout will be included in the 11th Five-year
National Economic and Social Development?Guideline (2006-10),
which is expected to be discussed at the annual session of the National
People's Congress in March.
To further improve development of China's coastal economic belt,
the State Council Development Research Center and Tianjin municipal
government will organize an international forum on April 18-19.
"Development of multinationals and lifting of trade barriers
will continue to promote China's economic development in coastal
regions," said Qian.
Since China started to open its 14 coastal cities in 1980s, the
cargo transportation volume in 10 cities has already surpassed 100
million tons annually. There are only about 25 port cities with
such capacity in the world.
Qian also said Shanghai became the world's largest port city in
cargo transportation in 2005 when its cargo volume reached 443
million tons.
And in container transportation, Shanghai and Shenzhen have
become the world's third and fourth largest ports following
Singapore and Hong Kong.
(China Daily January 19, 2006)