China’s Premier Wen Jiabao chaired a State Council meeting on 25 August that focused on the development of the Yangtze and other inland rivers.

The meeting decided on a target of building a modern, efficient, safe and eco-friendly network of inland rivers within the next 10 years. This means well-connected waterways, a network of major ports and a varied shipping capability, a modern safety regulatory regime and emergency response mechanism, a balanced relationship between shipping and the environment, and the development of multiple modes of transport to facilitate social and economic development.