Weng Shihui and Yang Di/Shanghai Daily news

Jiangyin city, as a crucial transportation hub in the Yangtze Delta Region, is putting more emphasis on developing its logistical systems.
In order to utilize its prime location to the full, a two-square-kilometer Jiangyin Bond Logistics Center has taken shape in the Jiangyin Port Logistics Park, sub-zone of the state-level Jiangyin Economic Development Zone.
So far, the total investment in the Jiangyin Bond Logistics Center has reached US$100 million. At the same time, warehouses and relevant facilities are being built, providing services such as the freely traded goods storage, import and export trade, commodity distribution, metal processing, transaction and the management of logistics information.
After the establishment of the center, it will become a crucial part of the logistics system in the Yangtze River Delta area.
Located in the middle of the Yangtze River Delta, the city has built up a strong traffic network with several expressways and a suspended bridge providing access to more than six cities nearby, including Wuxi, Suzhou, Changzhou, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou and some of the northern parts of the Yangtze River Delta.
In addition, the Bond Center will be equipped with customs, commercial declaration and guidance centers, customs container services and the public bonded warehouse.
In taking advantage of its key location in the Yangtze Delta, Jiangyin is the next sea port up river from Shanghai.
Its 35-kilometers-long coastal line is recognized as the "golden coast line," neither freezing nor silting.
Early in 1992, Jiangyin was approved as a first great open port by the State Council. More than 40 countries and regions have established trade relations with Jiangyin.
By the end of last year, the throughput of the port reached 26.8 million tons, including 51,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of containers, turning itself into one of the largest distributing centers for import steel and also one of the largest transfer centers for petrochemicals in the southeast of China.
Jiangyin is now experiencing a high performing economy. So far, the city's 18 listed enterprises generated 60 billion yuan (US$7.4 billion) in sales volume, covering five continents, in terms of the production, sale and raw materials supplied.
The annual logistics volume surpassed five million tons, including 200,000 TEUs of containers.
In July 2005, the Jiangyin government finalized ambitious plans for a 150-square-kilometer New Harbor City that will be built to take advantage of Jiangyin port. The design defined the harbor city as a coastal city with a maritime culture.
As planned, a five-square-kilometer new port is to be built within the harbor city, which will include seven berths for vessels of more than 10,000 tons, more than 20 inner port berths for vessels of over 1,000 tons, 200,000-square-meter storages and 60,000-square-meter public service zone by the end of next year.
When finished, the cargo throughput of Jiangyin port is expected to exceed 50 million tons, including 100,000 TEUs by the end of 2006.
As a port offering comprehensive services, seven berths for vessels over 10,000 tons can handle a variety of general and bulk cargo such as oil and chemicals, steel, bulk grains and coal.
The containers will include light textiles, electronics, pharmaceutical, bulk grains and chemicals.
Meanwhile, comprehensive functions including financial and commercial services, restaurants, tourism and hotels will be established in the harbor city.