Local communication authorities say the city will invest 94.4 billion yuan (about US$11 billion) by 2010 to build a communications center on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

According to the development plan, Chongqing will build two ring roads and eight radial expressways leading to major cities in the neighboring provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou and Hubei. By then the city's expressways will cover 2,000 kilometers.

Roads will also connect all its counties, townships and 90 percent of its villages.

Taking advantage of the adjacent Yangtze River and its tributaries, the city is also keen to become the water transport center on the Yangtze's upper reaches. Officials say the city will develop a network of waterways through its territory.

Chongqing will also upgrade the capacity of its ports and the annual throughput of all the ports will exceed 100 million tons by 2010, an increase of 48 million tons from current levels.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2003)