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Breakthrough = Achievements in=20 Constructionof Shanghai International Shipping = Center

Rui Xue

On April 14th, the State Council = of China=20 publicized the opinions on promoting construction of international = finance=20 center and international shipping center in China. Its progress has = attracted=20 extensive attention.

Phase Achievements of Shipping = Center=20 Construction

=A1=B0Till the end of 2009, the cargo throughput of Shanghai Port = reached=20 590 million tons and the container throughput reached 25 million TEUs, = ranking=20 the first and second positions in the world. The passenger throughput of = Shanghai airport reached 57.08 million person/time with a year-on-year = increase=20 of 11.7% and the cargo/post throughput of Pudong International Airport = was 2.54=20 million tons, the third largest in the world.=A1=B1 Shen Xiaosu, Vice = Director of=20 Shanghai Urban and Rural Construction and Transportation Commission = summarizes=20 the phase achievements of construction of Shanghai international = shipping center=20 in 2009, =A1=B0In our construction of the international shipping center = in Shanghai,=20 we have achieved breakthrough success in further improvement of the = modern=20 shipping congregation and distribution system, development of modern = shipping=20 service system, made bold research in establishment of comprehensive = trial=20 region of international shipping development, speed up development of = shipping=20 finance service and standardize the cruise industry.=A1=B1

Following the year of starting = of building=20 Shanghai international shipping center, 2010 will be the crucial period = of final=20 triumph. Mr. Shen told our journalist that the document of Arrangement = of Key=20 Work in Construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center 2010 has = been=20 drafted and will be publicized soon. In the initial consideration, = emphasis will=20 be put to improvement of congregation and distribution system as well as = shipping service system. The government authorities will lay stress on = the=20 tax-exemption registration of vessels as individual case, customs and = inspection=20 declaration at Shanghai Port and trial of tax refund at the port of = departure.=20 The policy of business tax exemption in Yangshan bonded port district = will be=20 implemented with integration and interplay of =A1=B0three ports and = three districts=A1=B1.=20 Besides that, the government will further reinforce the international = shipping=20 comprehensive information platform, develop shipping finance and orderly = cruise=20 industry and clarify the policy orientation of the trial region of = international=20 shipping.

Tracing Highlight = Issues

Tax Refund at Port of Departure: = Shanghai=20 Customs has drafted cooperation plans with the local customs of trial = regions=20 like Qingdao and Wuhan for coordinative administration and effective=20 surveillance of tax-refund goods at ports of departure by advanced = technology.=20 Wen Xuexiang, Vice Director of Shanghai Customs said, =A1=B0After = consent by the=20 relevant national authorities, we will immediately start the trial = operation of=20 tax refund.=A1=B1

As for the journalist's question = of=20 =A1=B0nationwide implementation of tax refund policy=A1=B1, Zhu Jianhua, = Vice Director of=20 Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Administration gave his pertinent=20 comments, =A1=B0Although we have not made nationwide planning, but the = trial=20 operation is farsighted because Qingdao is a seaport while Wuhan is an = inland=20 port. After experiments at these two ports of different nature, we shall = further=20 evaluate and consummate the policy and reform administrative rules so as = to=20 spread this feasible practice throughout China.=A1=B1 He also told the = journalist=20 that the tax refund policy will mostly affect the transshipment volume = of=20 Yangtze River as well as the coastal on-carriage volume. According to = the=20 relevant statistics, the container throughput of Yangtze River = (including inland=20 waterways) reached 5.498 million TEUs and about 4 million TEUs of = transshipment=20 volume at Busan Port come from China. Zhu reckoned, =A1=B0If Shanghai = Port could=20 attract these transshipments, the total volume will greatly=20 increase.=A1=B1

Foreign cruises calling at = multi-ports: in=20 October 2009, the Ministry of Transport issued the Circular about = Licensed=20 Foreign Cruises Calling at Multi Ports in China. Under this circular, if = licensed by the ministry, the cruises flying foreign flags are allowed = to call=20 at several ports in China. This favorable policy uplifts the efficiency = of=20 cruises and attracts more international liners, which is definitely = positive to=20 the development of cruise economy in Shanghai.

Construction of Inland Water = Fairways:=20 according to the relevant development planning, in 2010 the inland = waterway=20 containerization framework will basically take shape including four = special=20 fairways like Zhaojiagou and Dalu Line. In 2020, the inland waterway = trunk lines=20 backboned by =A1=B0One Ring and Ten Radiates=A1=B1 with total mileage of = more than 400=20 kilometers. For container congregation and distribution at Waigaoqiao = Port=20 District and Yangshan Deep-sea Port, Zhaojiagou inland harbor basin of = 1.15=20 square kilometers is under planning. Mr. Zhu also said, the fairway = project of=20 Jiangsu/Shanghai outer port line has been completed and launched into = operation,=20 the first among all the trunk line fairways. Other projects are now in = smooth=20 progress.