"15th Five-Year Plan" Transportation Blueprint Sets Tone: "One Network, Four Modernizations" Enhance Resilience, Cross-Border Corridors Pursue New Developments

China Economic Journal Reporter Sun Lichao Beijing Report

Transportation is the lifeline of the economy and a bond of civilization. On March 13, the “Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China” (hereinafter referred to as the “Outline”) was officially released. Several chapters involve the transportation sector, depicting a new blueprint for building a strong transportation nation over the next five years.

The “Outline” emphasizes “building a modern infrastructure system” by advocating moderate ahead-of-schedule development without overdoing it, strengthening overall planning of infrastructure, optimizing layout and structure, promoting integration and fusion, and enhancing safety resilience and operational sustainability. Industry experts point out that with the release of the “Outline,” China’s transportation sector will focus on the “One Network, Four Modernizations” as the core approach, accelerating the improvement of a modern comprehensive transportation system driven by both “hard connectivity” of facilities and “soft connectivity” of rules, serving a higher level of opening up.

Strengthening coverage and accessibility in weak areas

To improve the modern comprehensive transportation system, the “Outline” proposes advancing network supplementation and chain strengthening, enhancing cross-regional coordination and integrated connectivity across modes, and fully improving the overall benefits of transportation infrastructure. It aims to perfect the national integrated three-dimensional transportation network backbone, high-quality construction of strategic corridors along coastlines, borders, rivers, and new western land-sea corridors, and to basically complete the “Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal” high-speed railway main corridors and national expressway network. Upgrading inland river high-grade channels, and establishing world-class port clusters and airport groups are also key goals.

Specifically, the “Outline” systematically deploys the layout of transportation networks. It emphasizes strengthening coverage and accessibility in weak areas, promoting upgrades and renovations of conventional railways and national and provincial roads, launching a new round of rural road improvement initiatives, enhancing railway and branch airport construction in western regions, and optimizing border area road networks. It also calls for building international and national comprehensive transportation hubs, strengthening the construction of freight and passenger transport networks and station connections, and improving national postal and express delivery hubs.

In recent years, China has made breakthrough progress in building a comprehensive transportation system. On March 9, Liu Wei, Minister of Transport, stated at the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress during the “Minister’s Passage” that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has taken solid steps toward building a transportation powerhouse. The main framework of the “Six Axes, Seven Corridors, and Eight Passages” national integrated three-dimensional transportation network has exceeded 90% completion. Major indicators of passenger, freight, and postal services remain among the world’s top, and the modernization level of transportation technology and equipment has significantly improved.

Regarding transportation development during the “Fifteen Five” period, Liu Wei said that the “Outline” specifically plans to improve the modern comprehensive transportation system and clearly outlines six major projects for building the national integrated three-dimensional transportation network in dedicated sections. The most important measure for implementation is to focus on the “One Network, Four Modernizations.”

Liu Wei further explained, “One Network” means accelerating the construction of a high-quality, modern, comprehensive national three-dimensional transportation network. Specifically, on one hand, we aim to optimize and increase the volume, raising the main framework completion rate from over 90% to above 95%; on the other hand, we focus on improving quality in existing infrastructure, promoting updates and intelligent upgrades of long-serving, low-standard, and less resilient facilities. The “Four Modernizations” highlight deeper integration, safety enhancement, digital and intelligent upgrades, and green transformation. Key efforts include deepening cross-regional, cross-mode, and cross-sector integration; addressing safety vulnerabilities; implementing “Artificial Intelligence+” initiatives; and promoting zero-carbon corridors and stations, as well as the widespread adoption of new energy vehicles and vessels.

Zhong Zhangdui, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and director of the Smart Rail Transit Research Institute at Beijing Jiaotong University, told China Business Journal that after years of development, China now has the world’s largest high-speed rail network, highway network, and the longest metro mileage. During the “Fifteen Five” period, transportation development will shift from large-scale construction and investment to a stage of large operation and upgrades, optimizing structure. The safety, convenience, green, efficiency, economic, inclusive, and resilient features of sustainable transportation will be further enhanced. Construction of transportation hubs in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao, and the Yangtze River Delta will accelerate.

“Moreover, in response to the new opportunities brought by the silver economy, the aging-friendly construction of transportation facilities will also open up broad market space in the near future,” Zhong said.

An unnamed transportation industry analyst told reporters that during the “Fifteen Five” period, the scale of fixed asset investment in transportation will likely remain relatively high. Future infrastructure development will focus more on optimizing incremental investments and improving existing assets. The key areas for highway investment include expressway construction and expansion of existing roads in economically developed regions. Railway investment will mainly focus on network reinforcement, regional coordination, and intelligent upgrades.

Systematic improvement of cross-border transportation efficiency

While enhancing the quality and capacity of domestic road networks, interconnectivity has become a crucial foundation for deepening international cooperation. The “Outline” proposes establishing a diversified, resilient international transportation corridor system, promoting connectivity of cross-border transportation infrastructure, and supporting the healthy and orderly development of international air freight.

This aligns with China’s recent practices in cross-border transportation development. Today, the China-Laos railway sees robust passenger and freight traffic; the China-Europe Railway Express writes a new chapter of connectivity; the “Silk Road Maritime” international shipping routes span the globe… China has achieved remarkable results in cross-border connectivity, starting from infrastructure interconnection, further strengthening industrial cooperation with many countries.

At a series of high-quality completion conferences for the “14th Five-Year Plan” held by the State Council Information Office in July 2025, Liu Wei introduced that transportation is a leading sector in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the years, China has adhered to a global perspective on transportation, using connectivity to build mutually beneficial bridges. Infrastructure connectivity has turned natural barriers into thoroughfares, and the transportation sector has continuously promoted “hard connectivity.” The “Six Corridors and Six Routes” interconnected framework of multiple countries and ports has basically taken shape, injecting vitality into regional economic development. For example, the Quangai Port in Peru is South America’s first smart port, opening in November 2024, reducing sea transit time from South America to Asia by 10 days. Additionally, projects like the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and Gwadar International Airport have been completed and put into operation. These roads, bridges, and ports have become new symbols of the era, like the camel bells and sails of the new Silk Road.

Liu Wei stated that smooth transportation makes distant places feel close, and China insists on joint consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits, strengthening “soft connectivity” of systems and rules. The international transportation network is becoming increasingly dense.

Wang Chao, researcher at the Sustainable Transportation Innovation Center and professor at Beijing Jiaotong University School of Economics and Management, told China Business Journal that cross-border transportation “hardware facilities” include roads, railways, aviation, maritime, postal, and pipeline transport. Projects like the China-Laos railway directly connect China and Laos, while others like the China-Laos-Thailand railway connect China indirectly with Thailand. Soft connectivity involves mutual recognition of rules, customs management, transportation planning, and safety inspections. For example, some cross-border railways in China have achieved “one-stop, two-inspections” customs clearance, saving transit time for travelers.

Wang said that the “Outline” reflects the central government’s emphasis on cross-border infrastructure and is a strategic deployment to adapt to complex external environments, serve high-level opening-up, and foster new development patterns. During the “Fifteen Five” period, major projects like the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the cross-Caspian international transport corridor are expected to accelerate, with further alignment of rules, standards, and facilitation with neighboring countries, systematically improving international transportation efficiency.