Shanghai airport should improve its competitive edge and better serve clients by becoming a world-class airport, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said yesterday at Pudong International Airport.

The city should improve the airport environment in five aspects: fully using the advantages of Yangshan free trade zone and strengthening supervision; improving airport environment and simplifying procedures; promoting information platform; enhancing cooperation between Shanghai and other cities; increasing service quality.

Han encouraged airport staff to increase work efficiency and care more about clients because they are the city’s image representatives.

Shanghai handled 21.7 million 20-foot standard boxes in 2006, ranking the third in the world for the fourth consecutive year. Total cargo volume increased 21 percent to 537.4 million tons last year, topping the world for the second year.

Total imports and exports through Shanghai totaled US$428.8 billion last year, a 22.3 percent jump from a year ago.