On September 24, 2019, Li Xiaopeng, Minister of Transport, revealed at a press conference held by the State New Office that the Ministry of Transport would compile a national comprehensive three-dimensional transport network planning outline for 2020 to 2050 under the guidance of the "Outline of Transport Powers", which might describe some major projects and infrastructure construction projects. A large plate is given. In addition, the preparation of the 14th Five-Year Plan has been started. Data show that during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the total investment in transportation is expected to reach 15 trillion yuan.    

On September 19, 2019, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the Outline, which set a programmatic goal for China's transport development in the next 30 years. According to the time point, by 2035, China will basically build up a strong transportation country, a modern comprehensive transportation system will basically take shape, people's satisfaction will be significantly improved, and the ability to support the country's modernization construction will be significantly enhanced; with a developed rapid network, a perfect trunk network and a wide range of basic networks, the coordinated development of urban and rural regional transportation will reach a new level. Height and so on. By the middle of the 21st century, the scale and quality of infrastructure, technology and equipment, technological innovation ability, intelligence and greening level ranked the top in the world, and the level of traffic safety, governance ability, civilization, international competitiveness and influence reached the international advanced level.

Q: How can we summarize the specific objectives proposed in the Outline?

A: The specific objectives put forward in the Outline can be summarized as "three traffic networks" and "two traffic circles".

"Three Transportation Networks" includes a developed express network, which is composed of high-speed railway, expressway, civil aviation and so on. Second, a perfect trunk network. Mainly by the general speed railway, general national highway, waterway, as well as oil and gas pipelines, with high efficiency, strong service capabilities and other characteristics, the flow of people, goods, logistics through it fast and effective transmission. The third is the extensive basic network. Mainly by the ordinary provincial highway, rural highway, branch railway, branch waterway, general aviation composition.

"Two traffic circles" refers to the fast service system built around domestic travel and global fast cargo flow. One circle is called "National 123 Travel Circle". Its meaning is to strive to achieve one-hour commuting in urban areas, two-hour access in urban agglomerations and three-hour coverage in major cities of the country. Second, the "global 123 express cargo circle" strives to deliver goods in one day at home, two days in neighboring countries and three days in major cities around the world.

These three networks, especially the two transportation circles, have some of these goals in some developed areas, and some of them may have been initially achieved, but the quality is not high, but they have not been achieved in more areas, and there are still large gaps in some areas.

Q: What does this long-term goal mean for investment in transportation infrastructure?

A: I want to emphasize that the construction of transportation power is not only the construction of infrastructure, but also the construction of infrastructure, which is an important part of it. But besides the construction of infrastructure, we also need to improve the level of equipment, services, governance and so on.

In order to build infrastructure and achieve a higher level, huge investment is needed, but the current construction program does not address this issue and needs to wait for the next step of planning. Author/Song Di, Editor/Zhao Jing