Tianjin, a northern Chinese port city southeast of Beijing, Wednesday invited bidding on designs for its massive 180 billion yuan (US$21.7 billion) project to develop the areas along the Haihe River that flows through the city.

Prestigious domestic and foreign design institutions, including those from the United States, France and Australia, showed strong interest in the project at Wednesday's press conference sponsored by the municipal government.

The initial phase includes the building of a cross-river bridge, six shopping areas and business and aquatic sports facilities, according to Huo Bing, chief engineer with the Tianjin Bureau of Planning and Land Resources.

Designs submitted by the institutions will be reviewed by a committee of experts, government officials and deputies of investors.

Tianjin plans to develop the river area into a multi-functional zone with integrated capabilities in flood control, navigation, tourism and entertainment within three to five years.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2002)