The Present Situation and Prospects for Water Transport in China22.docVIP

The Present Situation and Prospects for Water Transport in China Xu Zuyuan Voce Minister, the Ministry of Communications Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Today I am very much pleased to have a chance to exchange views with you on the subject of “The new trend of shipping industry and new development of shipbuilding industry in the present world”. Practice has shown that readjusting of economy policy in China and Changing of freight volume and freight have great influence on the development of global shipping market. Here, I would like to share the achievement of water transport in China with you, and discuss the development as well a the prospects of future development. During the period of “the 10th five-year plan” water transportation in China has developed rapidly. Infrastructure construction steps at coastal ports have obviously been speeded up. The construction of Shanghai Yang Shan deep-water port in its first phase, deep channel waterway projects at the Yangtze River and Pearl River estuaries as well as some main hub of ports, and a number of wharf projects intended for large-scale containerships, coal and iron ore carriers, or crude oil tankers has started and put into operation respectively. In the areas around the Bohai Sea and delta of Yangtze River as well as Pearl River, groups of harbors begin to take shape. Numbers of specialized large-scale terminals for crude oil, ore and coal, and trunk waterway ports capable of accepting container ships of 4th generation or above were built up. Port berthing structure is developing to become large-sized and specialized. Inland water transport conditions significantly improved. Relevant projects were started or put into service one after another, such as: reconstruction of facilities in submerged areas of the Three-Gorges Dam, the reformation and necessary projects of navigation route for Nan-Liu branch of Yangtze River and within the Three-Gorges Dam area, renovation projects of numerous inland waterway