China's highways will reach 2.3 million kilometers by 2010, according to a plan for highways and waterways released by the Ministry of Communications Thursday.

By 2010 China will build 55,000 more kilometers of expressways, reaching cities with a population of more than 200,000, according to the plan.

By then, drivers will be able to complete a round trip of 400 to 500 kilometers and single trip of 800 to 1,000 kilometers in one day, the plan says. All counties should have regular buses.

China also aims to enhance its port handling capacity to 6.4 billion tons and container capacity to 100 million TEUs.

The ministry will also work to reduce accidents in highway and waterway transportation by providing transportation information service and setting up a monitoring system and emergency services.

It also aims to decrease the number of people who die in road and waterway accidents to below ten per 10,000 vehicles and below 1.2 per 100 million kilometers.

Land-saving and energy-saving are also included in the long-term plan for China's transportation development.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2005)