长江素有“黄金水道”之称,是我国中部和西南地区能源、冶金、矿建、石化等重要原材料,以及农产品和外贸进出口物资的水上运输大动脉,在我国综合运输格局中以及促进沿江地区经济发展进程中占有举足轻重的地位。2000至2005年间,长江杂货运输量几乎增加了两倍,而集装箱运输量增加了近三倍。 The Yangtze River is known as the “Golden Waterway” and is an important artery for water transportation of important sources of raw materials such as energy, metallurgy, mining and petrochemicals, as well as the import and export of agricultural products and foreign trade in the central and southwestern regions of our country. The economic development in the area along the Yangtze River occupies a pivotal position. Between 2000 and 2005, the volume of groceries in the Yangtze River almost tripled, while the volume of container traffic increased almost threefold.