East China's Shandong Province plans to invest about 35.1 billion yuan (4.2 billion US dollars) in 2005 to improve its transport system, including projects to build more highways, docks and bus stations.

The provincial government, with an investment of 23 billion yuan (about 2.8 billion US dollars), will build another 2,230 kilometers of highway, including 130 kilometers of expressway. The province will then have 80 thousand kilometers in total.

Government officials also say that the province will pour 5.3 billion yuan (about 638.6 million US dollars) to build 25 berths in major ports for ships of as high as 10 thousand tons in capacity.

It also plans to invest 800 million yuan (about 96.4 million US dollars) to build 15 projects like highway junctions, container transfer stations and to build and renovate 129 bus stations in rural areas.