Enterprises engaged in water transportation will have to meet new rules set for sound management. Those that fail to meet the demands will be forced to make improvements in a limited period of time. The license of unqualified enterprises will be revoked.

Huang Zhendong, minister of communications, said this at a national conference on transportation safety being held in Zhengzhou, capital city of central China's Henan Province.

The ministry will also revise some rules to discard unsafe ships compulsively.

He urged effective measures to be taken to guarantee transportation safety and avoid serious accidents.

He said that law enforcement should be strengthened to maintain long-term safety of transportation. Anyone who commits malfeasance will be investigated and punished.

According to statistics, over 580 accidents related to water transportation have occurred in 2000, killing more than 500 people and sinking 230-plus ships. The total economic losses accounted for more than 1.3 billion yuan. (US$156.7 million).

(Xinhua 01/13/2001)