China.org.cn | October 28, 2020
CNR:
My question is for Minister Li Xiaopeng. You mentioned that the Ministry of Transport has invested a total of 950 billion yuan of vehicle purchase tax revenue during the 13th Five-Year Plan period in the construction of road projects in impoverished areas. Could you please explain in more detail how this money is being spent? Can you also share some highlights and experiences from your work? Thank you.
Li Xiaopeng:
Thank you for your question. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the central government has invested a large amount of vehicle purchase tax revenue in supporting road construction projects in impoverished areas. People are very concerned that where the money has been invested and what the results have been. At this stage, as I just said, investment has exceeded 950 billion yuan. So far, the exact figure is 953.8 billion yuan for highway projects in impoverished areas.
In terms of categories, the investment in expressways is 286.9 billion yuan, the renovation of national and provincial roads is 356.7 billion yuan, and the investment in rural roads is 310.2 billion yuan. In terms of different regions, 60.3 billion yuan has been spent to impoverished areas in east China, 146.3 billion yuan in impoverished areas in the central region, and 747.2 billion yuan in impoverished areas in the west. In terms of results, from 2016 to 2019, we supported the construction and reconstruction of 16,900 kilometers of national expressways in poor areas, 52,500 kilometers of ordinary national highways, construction of around 96,000 kilometers of tarmac and cement roads in natural villages with large populations in poor areas, and completed safety and life protection projects along around 458,000 kilometers of countryside roads. A total of 143,000 kilometers of narrow subgrades and pavements were widened and reconstructed, and around 15,000 dangerously dilapidated bridges were rebuilt. These projects have had very good results.
During this work, our main experience has been that the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee is the fundamental guarantee for doing this work well. Support from all sides and the efforts of the whole industry are a solid foundation for doing this work well. If you would like to know about specific work experiences, I would say there have been four points. First, raising standards and continuing to increase investment. Second, continuing to work hard and insisting on precise policy implementation. Third, carrying out strict supervision and preventing falsehoods. Fourth, making effective connections with the rural revitalization strategy.
Going forward, the Ministry of Transport will continue to implement the spirit of the important instructions made by General Secretary Xi Jinping on poverty alleviation, and maintain the momentum of poverty alleviation in transportation. We should start well and end well; do positive things and achieve good results. We will not retreat until we have achieved victory, and will make greater contributions for the development of transportation in poor areas. Thank you.
Hu Kaihong:
That concludes today's press conference. Thank you, minister and directors. Thank you everyone.
Li Xiaopeng:
Thank you, Mr. Hu Kaihong.