The logistics enterprises in Shenzhen could try to develop their business in China's western areas where large potential logistics markets exist, Vice Minister of Communications Xu Zuyuan said Saturday at the Shenzhen International Logistics Conference of the 2004 Boao Forum for Aisa.

Although many expressways and major roads were built in western China, the current transport capacity is still not enough for the amount of goods to be transported in the region, which still remains very large and grows very fast, Xu said.

"The logistics enterprises in Shenzhen and other areas can definitely consider seeking business opportunities in the west and exploit more potential markets," he said.

In order to boost the development of its logistics industry, China will continue constructing more transportation infrastructure, especially developing more container ships, improving port operation efficiency and expanding road networks, Xu said.

By the end of 2003, the total length of roads in China reached 1.81 million kilometers, 30,000 kilometers of which were expressways, ranking second in the world, he said.

Xu also said China's shipping industry has been growing very fast in 2004, predicting national port throughput of cargo to reach 2.7 billion tons this year and the overall handling capacity of containers to hit 56 million TEUs, surging 20 to 30 percent over 2003.
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(Shenzhen Daily December 13, 2004)