Huang Zhendong, Minister of Communications, made the remark at a recent national meeting on the administration of highway-based industry, which was held in Changsha, capital city of central China's Hunan Province.

Huang extended a special welcome to overseas investors, inviting them to compete in more of China's highway construction projects and highway transport services.

Huang explained that China hopes the opening-up would bring about progress in the highway-based industry and inject vitality into the sector, especially the country's highway construction.

By 1999, the country had 582 registered construction companies.

There had also been 13.22 million people involved in highway transport services in China.

A total of 782 overseas financed businesses have been approved to engage in highway transport services in China, with an overseas investment value of over one billion U.S. dollars.

The central Chinese government has also signed agreements with the governments of a dozen border nations allowing two-way or multi-lateral highway transport services between China and countries concerned.

With further opening up of the country's highway-based market, China will also tighten management of market access and introduce strict qualification registrations among companies that are engaged in highway construction and road transport service, said the minister.

(21DNN 12/12/2000)