Coal dock.	The Shenyang Haikou Expressway traverses Ningde.

NINGDE in Fujian Province is a burgeoning city lying on China’s southeast coast, built around Sandu’ao Port. As a key free-trade harbor approved by the State Council, Sandu’ao has given great impetus to the city’s development, and is playing a crucial role in the economic strategy of the area west of the Taiwan Strait.

Unique Location

A famous natural deep-water port, Sandu’ao was one of the earliest Chinese harbors opened to foreigners. The customs office set up in 1898 is still one of the three largest in Fujian Province.

As a port facility, Sandu’ao has four key strengths. First is its size. The port covers an area of 714 square kilometers, and its main channel varies between 30 and 115 meters in depth. There are plans to build more than 150 berths of the 30,000-ton class or larger, including 61 berths between the 200,000-ton and 500,000-ton class.

Second, the port stands at the center of the Pacific Ocean’s western navigation lines, as well as lying in the center of China’s coastline.

Third, Sandu’ao has a pleasant environment with abundant resources, such as a beach, fresh water and electricity. The beach covers an area of 500,000 mu (1 mu=1/15 hectare); fresh water reserves stand at 15 billion cubic meters; and the generating capacities of the area’s hydro, thermal and nuclear power stations are expected to eventually exceed 12 million kW, facilitating the development of a large-scale heavy chemical industry in the coastal area.

Last but not least, Sandu’ao stands close to the Yangtze River Delta. Highways leading to Shenyang in the north and Haikou in the south are directly linked to the port. The Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway is scheduled to be completed in 2009. More highways, including routes from Ningde to Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Liaoning, are under construction. Surrounded by this huge transportation network, Sandu’ao will become an ideal channel through which inland provinces like Jiangxi, Anhui and Hunan can access global markets.

International Comprehensive Deep-water Port

The local government is determined to build Sandu’ao into one of the four largest ports in Fujian Province. “As a place rich in oceanic, agricultural and tourism resources, the Sandu’ao region is ripe for investment,” says Chen Rongkai, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Ningde Municipal Committee. “Now is the right time to boost development in the Sandu’ao region, which will be a significant driver in strengthening economic power on the western side of the Taiwan Strait. Sandu’ao will connect cities in the coastal area and give impetus to effective cooperation between Fujian Province and the Yangtze River Delta.” The CPC Ningde Municipal Committee and government put great emphasis on key projects and bringing famous brands to the area. With the aim of building the region into an international comprehensive deep-water port, beautiful scenic spot and a livable place, the local government is working hard in four key areas.

The first, and most important at present, is building Sandu’ao as an industrial center and entrepot. With a comprehensive set of large-scale projects and access to extensive transport options, Sandu’ao is expected to become a chemical industry base, as well as an important commercial harbor.

In terms of other forms of production, the burgeoning steel, petrochemical and shipbuilding industries have greatly bolstered the region’s development. Thermal and nuclear power stations are also under construction. Furthermore, the city has signed a contract with China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) to explore the Xinan Peninsula. A large number of shipbuilding, logistics and coal chemical enterprises are taking part in various projects on a massive scale.

The local government has also set targets to build a series of city groups around Sandu’ao, involving Sandu Island, Xinan, the Dongchong Peninsula and other neighboring ports.

In building the economy, the local government attaches great importance to ecological development. It embraces the idea of sustainable development and environmentally friendly principles, necessary to ensure a united and harmonious society. With an outstanding location, prosperous industries and a pro-investment environment, Sandu’ao looks forward to a bright future of ever-greater success.