Voice II

Inland river shipping is a weak link in the whole transport sector. It received the least state investment in transport over the past few years. This sector is being confronted with a raft of new problems and challenges in a climate of continuing economic and social development,

Transport Minister Li Shenglin noted at a recent meeting. To tackle this issue, China will ramp up its investment in inland river shipping in the 12th Five-year Plan period (2011-2015). The amount will be 2.7 times that of the previous five years, during which time the amount allocated to inland shipping in the budget was below two percent of total spending on transport. Shipping is a relatively eco-friendly means of transport. In terms of unit cargo turnover, the energy consumption and cost ratios between water and road transport are 1:13.9 and 1:6 respectively. In 2010 only 5.8 percent of China's cargo was transported on inland rivers. Among inland river shipping operators, the large majority -- 30,000 -- is self-employed, and these individuals vie for business with 350 corporations. Over-water constructions, including hydropower stations and quarry and sand digging operations, have blocked many shipping routes. Moreover, Grade III route mileage, indicating routes able to be navigated safely by kiloton vessels, stands at a mere eight percent of the inland route total. This is far below the figures of 61 percent in the U.S. and 76 percent in Germany.