Sustainable Development of Transport in China

VI. Future Prospects for China's Transport

The 19th CPC National Congress laid out the goals for realizing basic socialist modernization by 2035 and developing China into a great modern socialist country by the middle of the century. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee proposed that we should accelerate the effort to build China into a country with a strong transport industry, which would bring in a period of good opportunities for the sector's development.

A high-quality transport industry is a matter of urgency. Decisive progress has been made in China's endeavors to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The country has entered a new stage of development and worked to put into practice the new development philosophy, with a higher requirement and providing more room for transport to contribute to the new development dynamic. The Chinese people's expectations of a better life have been growing in a multi-tiered and multi-faceted way, producing stronger and more diverse demands for transport services.

A new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is gaining momentum and bringing tremendous changes to transport. Meanwhile, China is faced with a more complex international environment and increasing instability and uncertainty. The worldwide spread of COVID-19 has led to a level of profound worldwide change unseen in a century. Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism have seriously impeded international industry and supply chains. Climate change has posed real and potential threats to eco-environmental security and economic and social development.

Facing these changes in the international and domestic situation, China is moving faster in developing a national comprehensive and multidimensional traffic network, and reinforcing its strength in transport to satisfy the needs of its people, ensure adequate support for transport, and become a world leader in this field. They involve both opportunities and challenges.

China will adapt to changes in work and daily life, develop transport services that fully respond to public needs, and improve the efficiency and service quality of a comprehensive transport network. To serve the exploitation and protection of its land resources, and to ensure coordinated development between rural and urban areas and between regions, China will improve its all-round transport support capabilities, maintain a future-oriented approach to the development of its transport infrastructure, and optimize the leading role of transport in bolstering economic and social development. To serve high-quality economic development, China will transform the growth model of its transport industry, pursue safe, intelligent and green transport, improve its capacity in safety management and emergency response and rescue, and modernize its transport governance. To support opening up on all fronts, China will strengthen the connectivity of transport infrastructure and improve the globally-oriented network of transport services.

China moves faster to become a world leader in transport. In its endeavors to build a high-quality transport system fit for a new stage of development, China is committed to people-centered development, and pursues supply-side structural reform as its main task. Giving priority to transport in future plans, China will shift its focus from speed and scale to quality and efficiency, from independent initiatives to integrated multimodal development, and from traditional drivers to innovative forces. Our country will build a modern comprehensive transport system that is safe, convenient, efficient, green and economical, equipped with world-class facilities, technology, management and services.

By 2035, China will have built up significant strength in transport. A modern comprehensive transport system will be in place to substantially improve public satisfaction levels and better support national modernization. Equipped with an advanced express network, sound trunk network, and extensive basic network, the system will raise the coordinated transport development in urban and rural areas to new heights.

The National 1-2-3 Travel Circle (one hour to commute in cities, two hours to travel within city clusters, and three hours to travel between major domestic cities) and the Global 1-2-3 Logistics Circle (one day to deliver within China, two days to deliver to neighboring countries, and three days to deliver to major global cities) will take initial shape, providing convenient combined transport of passengers, and economical and efficient multimodal transport of goods. China will make marked progress in developing intelligent, safe, green and shared transport, easing urban traffic congestion, and creating a barrier-free travel system.

The country will establish a sci-tech innovation system for transport, develop advanced and safe key equipment, train high-caliber professionals, and create a sound market environment. China will achieve the basic modernization of its transport governance. Its international competitiveness and influence in transport will be improved markedly. China will make all-round progress in transport to meet the people's growing expectation for a better life and provide powerful support for achieving basic socialist modernization.

Conclusion

China is engaged in an all-out effort to build a great modern socialist country. Transport will play a stronger part in leading economic and social development. China will implement the new development strategy and develop safe, convenient, efficient, green and economical transport to lay a solid foundation for achieving basic socialist modernization by 2035 and becoming a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of the century.

At present, the world is facing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession. Transport can play an important role in binding countries together and promoting economic growth during this difficult time. Upholding the vision of a global community of shared future, China will continue to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and strengthen international exchanges and cooperation on transport. China will work with all other countries to promote global connectivity and stronger people-to-people ties, and make a greater contribution to building a better world.