Yangtze moves more cargo than any other world river

With 1.5 billion tons of cargo transported in 2010, the Yangtze River is the No. 1 river in the world for transporting cargo, according to the "2010 Yangtze River Merchant Shipping Report," released by the Yangtze River Navigational Affairs Administration on May 23.

Yangtze River artery transported three times as much cargo as the Mississippi River and five times as much as the Rhine.

The Yangtze River merchant shipping has generated 120 billion yuan direct contribution and 2000 billion yuan indirect contribution to the economic growth of the coastal cities. In addition, the shipping business has offered 200 jobs and indirectly created 10 million job opportunities.

Presently, the Yangtze River artery plays a pivotal part in the merchant shipping of iron ores, thermal coals, and minerals, and it is an important engine of the coastal economies along its banks.

During the 11th Five-Year Plan period, the shipping capacity of the Yangtze River artery was expanded and the construction of coastal ports was accelerated. Now there are six 100-million-ton harbors completed, which are in Suzhou, Nantong, Jiangyin, Nanjing, Zhenjiang and Wuhan.

By People's Daily Online

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