The figure indicates the port has realized its target of handling 120 million tons of goods annually by the end of 2005, or three years ahead of schedule.

According to a report released by the Qingdao Port Authority, imports and exports accounted for 80 million tons of the freight, and the port has thus become the second biggest foreign trade port on the Chinese mainland.

Shanghai Port is the biggest one on the Chinese mainland capable of handling 250 million tons of goods a year. Other major ports include Ningbo Port in east China's Zhejiang province, Guangzhou Port in South China's Guangdong province, Qingdao Port, and the ports of Tianjin, Dalian and Qinhuangdao in north China.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2002)