By Zheng Caixiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-14 09:32

A new inner river port was launched in Zhaoqing, a city in the western part of Guangdong Province, early this week.

Located on the lower reaches of the Xijiang River, one of the major tributaries of the Pearl River, the new Zhaoqing Xingang Port links the city to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces.

The port has 10 berths of 5,000-ton and two of 1,000-ton. It's one of the biggest inner river ports on the mainland and is expected to play a big part in the rural economic development of western Guangdong.

"The new Xingang Port is expected to make Zhaoqing the transport and logistics center for the Xijiang River Valley region that covers an area of 304,900sqkm. It connects the vast southwestern region with the prosperous Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong and Macao," said Guo Feng, executive vice-mayor of Zhaoqing.

Xingang Port has the capacity to handle up to 15 million tons of cargo a year and connects with major cities and regions via Guangdong's expressway and rail network.

Guo said Zhaoqing's economic ties with neighboring Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan will be strengthened and the city will seek more investment in the coming years.

He also said the local government will help investors and businesses tap the mainland's vast southwestern region when they set up production facilities in Zhaoqing.

The provincial government is offering more preferential policies for land use rights, tax, business certificates and loans to bring more foreign businesses to the city.

Tong Xing, Guangdong's vice-governor, has also urged foreign investors and companies from the Pearl River Delta region to seek more opportunities in the province's rural west.

Guangdong's rural areas have been given priority for foreign investment under the current Five-Year Plan.

The provincial government has also vowed to increase spending on infrastructure to make the area more enticing to investors.