A senior official with China's Ministry of Transport announced Wednesday that the country will accelerate the large-scale adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the transport sector, focusing on building an intelligent, integrated, multimodal transportation network.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Xu Wenqiang, director of the ministry's Department of Science and Technology, briefed the media on the guideline to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into the transport sector, which was issued by seven government agencies, including the Ministry of Transport, in late September.
"[The Ministry of Transport] will accelerate development of a large-scale comprehensive transportation model and build a unified platform for diverse models, heterogeneous computing power, and general data in a bid to provide basic capabilities for developing intelligent agents across the industry. We will also develop agents for highways, waterways and integrated transport systems, covering road network monitoring, safety alerts, and smart emergency dispatch. [We try] to construct a 'smart brain' and 'data hub' with broader coverage, enhanced functions, seamless coordination, and secure, controllable operations," said Xu.
According to the Ministry of Transport, it will focus on 10 key areas, including intelligent driving, smart highways, and smart shipping, with a plan to launch more than 100 pilot and demonstration projects. The program, the ministry said, aims to engage thousands of innovation entities and promote full-scenario AI applications.
China to scale AI across transportation sector: official
China will use various policy tools to build a robust domestic market, said China's Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an at the China Development Forum 2026 annual meeting on Sunday.
Themed "China in its 15th Five-Year Plan Period: Advancing High-Quality Development and Creating New Opportunities Together", the two-day event convenes global business leaders and scholars to explore shared opportunities emerging from China's pursuit of high-quality growth.
Lan stated the government will step up efforts to boost consumption and intensify implementation of inclusive policies that deliver benefits directly to consumers. This year, 250 billion yuan (around 36.3 billion USD) in ultra-long-term special treasury bonds will be allocated to support trade-in programs for consumer goods, and a 100 billion yuan fund will be established to stimulate domestic demand.
Meanwhile, efforts will be made to enhance long-term consumption capacity, strengthen employment support, improve the social security system, and increase residents' income through multiple channels.
On expanding effective investment, the government will optimize its investment structure and coordinate the use of ultra‑long‑term special treasury bonds, local government special bonds, and investment from the central government budget. Greater funding will be concentrated on priority areas such as new quality productive forces and new urbanization.
"We will improve fiscal and tax support policies, help private enterprises share risks, reduce financing costs, and stimulate private investment. This year, we will allocate special funds to provide credit enhancement for private enterprises issuing bonds; establish a special guarantee program for private investment; implement loan interest subsidy policies for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; and guide more financial resources to business entities and the real economy," said Lan.
Finance ministry pledges stronger policy efforts to build robust domestic market
