Shanghai, the largest city of China, Wednesday announced that construction of an Information Port to develop local information technologies is the municipality's top priority among its 30 key projects planned for this year.

According to a working conference on Shanghai's key projects held today in the city, this was the first time Shanghai has listed a high-tech project at the top of its agenda.

For more than a decade, Shanghai had given top priority to housing and highway construction, among other infrastructure projects.

The Information Port will include the creation of broadband electronic networks and computer centers in the city, aimed at boosting the local information technology.

The 30 key construction projects this year are mainly government-funded projects, with highways, railways, and environmental protection projects accounting for 60 percent of them.

Shanghai plans to build 120 kilometers of highways and 80 kilometers of railways this year, according to the meeting.

Investment in environmental protection projects account for 15 percent of the total, much higher than in previous years, they added.