The handling capacity of China's ports is expected to hit 8 billion tons and 170 million TEUs (twenty-foot container equivalent units) in 2010, according to information from the on-going China Ports and Terminals Summit held in north China's Tianjin Municipality.

The cargo handling capacity of all China's ports totaled 5.6 billion tons and 93 million TEUs last year, both the biggest in the world for four consecutive years, said Qian Yongchang, head of the China Communication and Transportation Association, at the summit on Tuesday.

Last year, China had 12 ports with throughput capacities exceeding 100 million tons.

Shanghai port handled 530 million tons of cargo last year, making it the busiest in the world.

Qian said China has been investing heavily in port construction as the national economy sores and foreign trade increases steadily.

In 2006, more than 160 construction projects kicked off on China's seaports, involving 60 billion yuan, up 30 percent year-on-year.

The priority of the investment in port construction will be put on expanding capacity and improving comprehensive services, Qian said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2007)