Wang Xinjian, head of the Communications Bureau of Shenzhen City, said the port handled over 5 million TEU of containers last year. In the first half of the year, the port city handled 3.23 million TEU of containers, up 49.7 percent from the same period last year.

During the same period, Shenzhen handled 40.04 million tons of cargo, up 33.4 percent, showing Shenzhen had become the most important international port in south China.

Bao'an Airport in the city handled 4.56 million arrivals and departures from January to June, up 20.9 percent, while 150,000 tons of cargo and mail were transported via highways, up 33.4 percent.

Shenzhen would continue to lavish huge investment in "rejuvenating the city via port business", said Wang, adding the city would see further improvement in its investment environment, overall competitiveness and the construction of infrastructure this year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2002)