Shandong's transportation infrastructure fuels high-quality development

A view of Rizhao Port in Shandong province. [Photo by Zhang Mingjun/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Shandong province has made significant strides in enhancing its transportation infrastructure, said Zhou Naixiang, the governor of the province, on Thursday during the National People's Congress session.

The province now boasts 3,047 kilometers of high-speed rail, ranking among the top in China, with six additional lines under construction set to raise that number to over 4,400 kilometers by 2028.

The road network spans 296,000 kilometers, with expressways exceeding 8,700 kilometers.

Shandong's coastal ports handle over 2 billion metric tons of cargo annually, with three ports — Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai — ranking among the world's top 10.

Zhou outlined the province's plans, including the development of a modern transportation network, the construction of international logistics corridors and the promotion of smart and green transportation initiatives.

"These efforts aim to support Shandong's role as a key economic growth driver in northern China," said Zhou.