The downfall of Bo Xilai has not slowed down the aggressive investment and rapid trade growth of Chongqing, the city he used to head.
Bo was dismissed as Chongqing party chief in March and is currently under investigation for 'serious violations of discipline'.
'During the 12th five-year-plan period [from 2011 to 2015], our city will invest 20 billion yuan [HK$24.4 billion] to accelerate the development of Chongqing as an upstream shipping centre along the Yangtze River,' said Teng Hongwei, a senior Chongqing transport official, at a seminar on Tuesday.
The city's goal of becoming a major shipping hub along the upper Yangtze River should be accomplished by 2015, Teng added.
Last year, Chongqing's river trade reached 120 million tonnes, according to its government website.
'The Yangtze River will be a very important trade channel. With the shift of manufacturing to Western China from coastal regions, more goods will pass through the Yangtze to Shanghai, where they will be exported,' said Li Zhongjie, logistics director of Wuhan International Container Transshipment.