China's transport network achieves major progress under 14th Five-Year Plan

China has made remarkable achievements in transportation infrastructure during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), with six key indicators already met ahead of schedule by 2024, Transport Minister Liu Wei announced on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Liu revealed that targets including expressway mileage, urban rail transit operations, railway access rate to major coastal ports, express delivery coverage to administrative villages, Beidou system application rate, and new energy public transport ratio had all been achieved one year early. The remaining 11 indicators, including high-speed railway mileage and rail access rate to hub airports, are expected to be completed by year-end.

Over these five years, China's transportation sector has made historic accomplishments with breakthrough progress in building a comprehensive transport system, Liu said. The backbone network of the National Comprehensive Three-dimensional Transportation Network, known as the "six vertical, seven horizontal and eight channel" framework, has reached over 90 percent completion rate.

"By the end of 2024, China's operational railway network had reached 162,000 kilometers, marking an increase of approximately 16,000 kilometers since the conclusion of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), with high-speed rail expanding by 10,000 kilometers. The national highway system grew to 5.49 million kilometers, adding about 290,000 kilometers, including 30,000 kilometers of new expressways," Liu said.

"Navigable high-grade waterways extended to 17,600 kilometers, up 1,600 kilometers compared with the end of 2020, while seaports now feature 2,971 berths capable of handling vessels of over 10,000 tons, an increase of 379. Certified civil aviation airports totaled 263, with and addition of 22 new ones. During the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, fixed-asset investment in transportation infrastructure amounted to 15.2 trillion yuan, representing 23.3 percent year-on-year growth," Liu said.

These developments have significantly enhanced China's comprehensive transport capacity, service quality and operational efficiency, Liu said, noting the vision of "smooth passenger travel and efficient goods flow" is becoming a reality.

China's transport network achieves major progress under 14th Five-Year Plan

China's transport network achieves major progress under 14th Five-Year Plan

China's transport network achieves major progress under 14th Five-Year Plan

China's transport network achieves major progress under 14th Five-Year Plan

China's transport network achieves major progress under 14th Five-Year Plan

China's transport network achieves major progress under 14th Five-Year Plan

China's top political advisor Wang Huning has met with delegates attending the 11th national congress of the Taoist Association of China, which was held on Monday and Tuesday in Beijing.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, stressed the importance of implementing the Party's basic policy on religious affairs, and of guiding followers and key figures of Taoism to contribute to the country's modernization drive.

Wang urged the association to exercise full and rigorous governance over the religion, intensify efforts to raise awareness of the rule of law, and foster an image of a Taoist community that is patriotic and devoted to the faith, maintains good conduct, abides by the law, and upholds Taoist precepts.

He encouraged the association to cultivate talent proficient in both canonical teachings and fine traditional Chinese culture, and to expand global exchange in Taoism.

At the national congress, the association adopted a revised charter, as well as a set of religious rules and regulations, and elected new leadership.

Top political advisor meets with Chinese Taoist delegates