Southern Metropolis Daily:

In the past three years, during the epidemic, the transportation industry faced many difficulties. What has the MOT done to help related enterprises tide over difficulties? Will there be any follow-up policies this year? Thank you.

Li Xiaopeng:

We will invite Mr. Xu Chengguang to take your questions.

Xu Chengguang:

Thank you for your questions. Transport and logistics are the lifeline of the market economy and an important guarantee for people's livelihoods. In 2022, due to multiple factors caused by the epidemic, transportation entities encountered considerable difficulties in their production and operations. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attached great importance to that and offered key measures and assistance to them. The MOT thoroughly studied and implemented the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, and acted in accordance with the requirements of "preventing the epidemic, stabilizing the economy, and ensuring safe development." We implemented a package of policies and follow-up policies to stabilize the economy, worked with relevant departments to refine policies and measures, and increased support for enterprises affected by the epidemic. With focus on stabilizing transportation entities, we made our own contribution to maintaining a stable economic market, and keeping the economy operating within a reasonable range. Our work was mainly as follows.

First, we have strengthened policy supply and leveraged the integrated effects of policies. We have introduced policies to reduce and combine port fees, reduced coastal port navigation fees, improved tugboat fee policies, and reduced cargo dues for a set period. We have also guided all localities to comprehensively promote differentiated toll collection on expressways, strictly implemented the green channel policy for fresh agricultural products, and exempted 10% of toll fees for road freight on toll roads in the fourth quarter. These policy measures have reduced and exempted approximately 96.6 billion yuan. We have also established a special re-lending scheme for transportation and logistics in cooperation with the People's Bank of China and cooperated with relevant departments to launch over 40 relief policies such as tax reduction and fee reduction measures, deferred payments of social security fees, financial subsidies, and credit support. These policies are highly targeted, widely beneficial, and have significant integrated effects.

Second, we took multiple measures to ensure relief policies were fully utilized. We guided transportation departments in all localities to establish and improve working mechanisms, formulate detailed rules for implementation, and promote the full implementation of relief policies. We conducted comprehensive and special inspections and worked to ensure all levels of transportation authorities fulfill their management responsibilities. We dynamically published a list of support policies, strengthened policy publicity and interpretation, and helped market entities fully understand and benefit from the policies. We also strengthened the connection between the government, banks, and enterprises and enhanced interdepartmental information sharing to facilitate the maximum effectiveness of relief policies. This year, our ministry, together with the People's Bank of China and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), issued a notice on further improving financial support and services in the transportation and logistics field, extending the transportation re-relending policy to the end of June 2023, expanding the policy support scope, simplifying application conditions, and shortening the reimbursement time.

Third, we have strengthened operation monitoring to ensure that the dividends of policies are fully released. We intensified monitoring over the economic operation of the industry and the business operations of enterprises and tracked the implementation of policies. We established and improved linkage mechanisms with departments such as those overseeing fiscal, taxation, and financial affairs and coordinated and solved problems in policy implementation. According to statistics, in 2022, the tax and fee burden on every 100 yuan of operating income in the transportation industry decreased by 15.4%. The transportation and logistics re-lending policy, the policy to allow deferred repayment of principal and interest for truck loans by central SOEs in the auto sector and financial institutions, and other policies have been implemented and taken effect, effectively reducing the burden on enterprises and practitioners and helping transportation and logistics market entities develop steadily and healthily.

In 2023, the MOT will thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference, conscientiously implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, guide the industry to make full use of various relief policies, continue to optimize the business environment, stimulate the vitality of market players, and better serve economic and social development. Thank you.

Li Xiaopeng:

Just now, Vice Minister Xu answered in detail the question regarding helping enterprises out of difficulties. We sincerely thank the Party Central Committee and the State Council for their great attention to the difficulties encountered by transportation enterprises. We also appreciate the concern and support of friends from all walks of life, including the media, for transportation enterprises facing difficulties. In the new year, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, we will continue to do a good job in assisting enterprises in resolving difficulties and achieving better development. Thank you.