Developing ocean-going transport is only part of the country's plan to become a strong shipping power.

Minister of Communications Li Shenglin said yesterday that the central government will spend at least 40 billion yuan ($5.15 billion) to build infrastructure for water transport during the 11th Five Year Plan (2006-10).

Half of that money will be used to upgrade inland waterways, and the rest on coastal navigation and water transport safety supervision and rescue system, Li said at a national water transport meeting in Beijing. The investment is more than double that of the previous Five-Year Plan (2000-2005).

The MoC plans to build 10,000 km of high-class inland navigable waterways for vessels with more than 1,000-deadweight tonnage by 2010. It expects to attract more investors and social capital to inland ports by modernizing the infrastructure.

Vice-Minister of Communications Xu Zuyuan said the current 30,000-odd inland berths are meeting a demand that is beyond their capacity, and there is no undesirable competition.

There is no restriction on foreign investment in ports, and the management and operation of ports are open to foreign investors, too, Xu said.

Ports in Chongqing, Wuhan and some of those in the Pearl River Delta region have already had foreign investments.