The framework of China's national comprehensive transport system is taking shape, said an official of the Ministry of Transport at a press conference held in Beijing on Monday.
China has issued relevant guidelines on developing the national comprehensive transport network, aiming to develop a modern, high-quality and fully integrated transport system.
By 2035, the country's transport network should be convenient, cost-effective, green, intelligent and safe, according to the guidelines jointly released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.
"Currently, the framework (of the national transport system) is taking shape, encompassing over 260,000 kilometers of routes with approximately 90 percent of them having been built. These routes have connected over 80 percent of the country's county-level regions and are serving about 90 percent of the national economy and population," said Hou Zhenxing, deputy head of the comprehensive planning department under the ministry.
According to the ministry, the framework of the country's national comprehensive transport network comprises vital arteries and channels across the country.
It encompasses six primary axes from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region in the north to China's southern regions, along with seven corridors that connect Beijing, Xizang and other areas in China.
As the framework is taking shape, the focus of the work on the network is shifting from routes mapping to detailed construction planning. The goal is to eventually link all administrative regions and border ports at and above the county level across the country.
According to the ministry, in the first quarter, China invested 712.5 billion yuan (about 98 billion U.S. dollars) in fixed transportation assets, playing a crucial role in bolstering economic recovery.
Several key construction projects for the transport network are progressing at an accelerated pace. In February, Tian'e Longtan Bridge, a steel-reinforced concrete arch bridge with a span of over 600 meters, opened to traffic in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The East Sixth Ring Road Tunnel in Beijing entered its final stage for reconstruction to improve the layout and connections of traffic routes in the area.
China's comprehensive transport network taking shape
