China Builds Shipyards to Drive Industry

CHINA will build three shipyards at Bohai Bay, the mouths of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River over the next five years, according to the national shipbuilding authority.

The country will enhance management in the shipbuilding industry from this year to 2010 by speeding up the construction of three major shipyards, and by enhancing the development of new ship types, establishing modern shipbuilding models and developing the building technology for ship accessories, according to China's medium and long-term shipping development plans.

It is time for China to further develop its shipbuilding industry, said an official from the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense. China's shipbuilding industry is now at a critical stage where it can become even stronger, the official added.

However, China still needs to face a series of challenges, such as fierce competition, industry uncertainties, weak innovation abilities and less-developed accessory building technologies, the official said.

With the abundance of human resources, a long coastline and a strong demand from the domestic market, China is now the third largest shipbuilder in the world. Its proportion in the world's shipbuilding industry has surged from six percent in 2000 to 20 percent last year.

(Source: www1.shanghaidaily.com)