Shanghai and Shenzhen are expected to become the first and second-largest container ports in the world soon, surpassing Hong Kong and Singapore, according to Richard Nicholson, vice president of AP Moller-Maersk.

"China is certainly the most exciting place to be in the terminal industry today," said Nicholson at a seminar yesterday addressing logistics development in Asia.

"When Dalian jumps to be among the top 30, we will be proud to say that one-third of the world's top 30 ports are located in China."

Shenzhen ranked fourth in 2004 among ports worldwide in terms of the number of containers it handled, after Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.

In an interview with the Shenzhen Daily after the seminar, Nicholson said it was "absolutely" correct for the Shenzhen government to build more logistics bases in and outside the special economic zone.

"It (Shenzhen) is already the world's logistics center and shall develop itself at a faster pace," he said.

Nicholson was in Shenzhen in April to meet top government officials for more cooperation. His company has already invested in the Yantian port area, Nicholson said.

When asked about the dispute on some surcharges levied by Maersk on local transport companies, Nicholson said he was not aware of it as he was in charge of the port and terminal business.

(Shenzhen Daily November 22, 2005)