Beijing, February 28, 2024, The Europe Today: China has reported noteworthy achievements in enhancing its transport infrastructure network and services over the past year, according to the Ministry of Transport. Minister Li Xiaopeng shared key highlights during a press conference held on Wednesday.
In 2023, the country invested a total of 3.9 trillion yuan (approximately 548.7 billion U.S. dollars) in fixed-asset development within its transport system. Minister Li revealed that 2,776 kilometers of high-speed railways were inaugurated, and 7,000 kilometers of expressways were either constructed or expanded during the same period.
China made substantial progress in maritime infrastructure by adding or enhancing 1,000 kilometers of shipping lanes. The country’s air transport capabilities were bolstered with a total of 259 operational airports, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Furthermore, postal services were made accessible to all administrative villages.
The Minister highlighted the continuous improvement of China’s transport services, with an optimized transport structure. Commercial freight volume witnessed an 8.1 percent year-on-year increase, reaching 54.75 billion tonnes in 2023. This marked a significant surge of 16.9 percent compared to the figures from 2019.
Passenger transport also experienced robust growth, with inter-regional passenger traffic rising by 30.9 percent year-on-year to 61.25 billion trips in 2023, showing an increase of 0.8 percent from 2019.
Minister Li emphasized that China is committed to promoting the high-quality development of its transport sector, incorporating green and low-carbon transformations.
China has also focused on strengthening international cooperation, particularly in the Belt and Road initiative. Minister Li reported steady progress in the high-quality development of Belt and Road transport connectivity.
In a related development, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau, announced that China retained its top position in the global express delivery sector for the tenth consecutive year. Express courier firms in the country handled a remarkable 132 billion parcels in 2023, reflecting a 19.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. The sector generated a total revenue of 1.2 trillion yuan, marking a 14.3 percent year-on-year growth.
These achievements underscore China’s commitment to advancing its transport infrastructure, fostering economic development, and contributing to global connectivity and cooperation.
