(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-21 09:03

A key production line that has an annual capacity of five million tons of sheet metal was put into production Thursday by Masteel, one of the largest iron and steel producers in China.

The production line was built with an investment of more than 20 billion yuan after more than two years of construction in Ma'anshan, East China's Anhui Province..

Wu Bangguo, chairman of Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) said in a congratulatory letter, "Building such an important project in China in only just over two years shows Masteel's spirit of constantly striving to become stronger."

He expressed the hope that Masteel should implement the scientific concept of development, achieve sound and fast development and contribute to China's change from a "big country" into a "strong country" in the production of iron and steel.

Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan attended the ceremony celebrating the construction and operation of the production line.