¡¡¡¡In recent years, the rapidly developing shipping industry has drawn ever-wider attention. In 2007, to promote high-speed development in the marine transport industry, a series of measures have been taken, including restructuring, changing modes of development, shifting focuses onto innovation, emphasising management. Thus waterborne transport has successfully supported China¡¯s nationwide as well as regional economic and social development, becoming an important part of the integrated transport system. Its specific achievements are as follows:
¡¡¡¡(I) Availability significantly enhanced. In 2007, China¡¯s sea cargo transport and cargo turnover accounted for 12% and 62% respectively in total transport amount. For the 5th year in a row, China¡¯s port cargo throughput has ranked the world¡¯s first, with 14 100-million-ton ports and their annual container throughput exceeding 100 million TEU.

¡¡¡¡(II) Infrastructure substantially improved. In 2007, RMB 72.011 billion has been invested into coastal infrastructure construction, which has generated an extra 320-million-ton in handling capacity, 371 berths with 400 million tons of additional handling capacity, as well as 594 kilometres of inland waterway newly-built or improved. By the end of 2007, China had 35,947 productive berths, including 1,337 10,000-ton deep-water ones; 50% of the 123,000-kilometre-long navigable river channel is of first-class quality. On the other hand, inland waterborne transport is advancing based on the Yangtze River golden waterway.

¡¡¡¡(III) Supervision, regulation and control strengthened over the market. The macro-control on passenger carriers and liquefied gas availability in the Bohai Bay and between Qiongzhou Straits has further strengthened dynamic monitoring. At the same time, the special campaign to start charging terminal construction fees from some cargo owners has standardised handling prices for both internal trade containers and iron ore in either foreign or domestic trade, thus protecting the industry¡¯s general interests.

¡¡¡¡(IV) Port structural reform steadily promoted. On the right track, the pilot management system has been completed, therefore regulating the Yangtze River piloting system, initiating fair and impartial piloting in all ports.

¡¡¡¡(V) Policy support continuously increased. Approved by the State Council, the Ministry of Transport has issued the Regulations on Chinese International Shipping Vessels Tax-free Special Registration. In 2007, the first batch of 25 Chinese flags of convenience vessels, more than 1 million dwt in total, already came back for registration.

¡¡¡¡(VI) Security assured. More efforts have been contributed to control those inter-provincial oil tankers and chemical products carriers. Ocean shipping vessels are frequently upgraded and safety control over passenger sailing boats is enhanced, phasing out obsolete ones.

¡¡¡¡(VII) Progress made on technological innovation and information systems. There has recently been more study on channel deposition, on current flow impact on channels, on energy saving and emission reduction technologies over container transport and bulk cargo terminal operations.
¡¡¡¡Simultaneously, an information system is highly anticipated. Currently, 20 EDI shipping or terminal centres, 78 ports, and 3 large shipping companies have realised network connections and information sharing. After the development of EDI report messages and information management system, coastal port construction application system, NVOCC and the shipping between the Mainland and Taiwan online operations system, the dynamic management system regarding inland waterway transport construction projects has begun its trial.

¡¡¡¡(VIII) Exchanges and cooperation. The China-ASEAN Maritime Agreement and China-Lithuania Maritime Agreement have recently signed; a China, Japan, South Korea maritime transport and logistics plan has been implemented and firstly has greatly benefited land-sea motor transport cooperation between China and South Korea; in cooperation with the Dutch Transport, Public Works and Water Resources Management Department, the Chinese Ministry of Transport organised the Yangtze River Shipping International Forum; there are also bilateral talks on shipping development or WTO negotiations with the USA, the EU, Canada and other countries.
¡¡¡¡The Chinese Ministry of Transport has signed the new supplementary agreement to CEPA on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong¡¯s reunification; introduced five new measures to promote cross-strait direct shipping; strengthened the cooperation in disaster relief; realised direct sea freight between Fujian coastal regions and Penghu.
¡¡¡¡The near future is a critical period for China, a country on the way to building a well-off society, and 2008 is the first year to implement the spirit advocated by the 17th CPC National Congress, to mark the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up, and to organise the Olympic Games in Beijing. We shall adhere to the themes of being people-centred, taking steady measures, changing modes of development and nurturing an innovative industry in these following seven steps:
¡¡¡¡First, nothing can be more urgent and pressing than the task to guarantee waterway transport for the earthquake relief effort. Meanwhile, however, work must be done to strengthen key resources waterway transport, particularly for the coal, electricity and oil supply, so as to meet the summer energy-consuming peaks in a well-organised manner.
¡¡¡¡Second, we must prepare against security threats and terrorism, develop in a safe, stable and harmonious environment.
¡¡¡¡Third, we must accelerate the legislative process, with a focus on settling the Regulations on Domestic Waterway Transport, Law of Channels; promote the Regulations on Waterway Passenger and Freight Transport Additional Management Charges; implement the Regulations on Domestic Shipping Business Qualification Management; push works on the Regulations on Ship Transaction Management, the Regulations on Supporting Infrastructures Establishment and Management in the Ministry of Transport, and etc.
¡¡¡¡Fourth, we need to carry out more substantial activities: to upgrade overall service quality of this industry; to penalise container overloading; to conduct professional training programs; to promote the nationwide administration information system on waterway transport as well as the port security information system; to push the direct sea link across the Straits.
¡¡¡¡Fifth, there are communications, media reports and coordination required in the face of a number of activities: the National Council of Port and Shipping Management, Shanghai International Shipping Terminal Distinguished Forum, the 2nd Session of the Yangtze River Waterway Transport Administration Group Conference, and the July 11th ¡°Ocean Shipping Day¡± celebrations.
¡¡¡¡Sixth, we will continue the routine tasks concerning designing, approval, bidding supervision, final acceptance on key infrastructure construction projects.
¡¡¡¡Seventh, we will positively position the Waterborne Transport Department in terms of fixing functions, institutional set-up and staffing requirements.