Xinhua | November 29, 2024
I. Building Roads to Benefit Rural Areas and the Rural Population
In the early years of the PRC, the country was poor and backward, and rural road construction made a struggling start. After the launch of reform and opening up in 1978, support for rural road construction increased through major national initiatives, including the practice of providing employment instead of relief for those in difficulty, the Seven-year Priority Poverty Reduction Program (1994-2000), and the large-scale development of the western region. As a result, the condition of rural roads improved significantly and by 2002, the total length of rural roads had reached 1.34 million km1.
In 2003, the Chinese government set the goal of "constructing more and better rural roads to facilitate urbanization, and ensure that farmers have access to asphalt and cement roads". Through an accessibility and connectivity project, more roads were built to ensure that all villages in China's east, all townships in the central part, and all counties in the west had access to the road network. Thanks to the rapid growth achieved over a decade, the total length of rural roads increased to 3.68 million km by 2012.
Entering the new era, China has advanced high-quality rural road construction in support of the poverty eradication campaign and the rural revitalization strategy, and in service of farmers striving for moderate prosperity, meeting the goal that all towns, townships, and administrative villages where conditions allow have access to asphalt and cement roads, as well as bus and postal services.
By the end of 2023, the length of rural roads had reached 4.6 million km, accounting for 84.6 percent of the total road length in China. This safe and convenient transport network has brought about a remarkable transformation in rural areas, connecting villages and towns to the outside world and expanding bus services to villages. The ongoing development of rural roads will continue to bring benefits to China's agriculture, rural areas and rural population.
1. People-Centered Approaches
Adhering to a people-centered philosophy of development, China has worked to see that people's needs for quality transport is met and roads are built where they are most needed, in an effort to address the issues that directly impact the people's most immediate interests. It emphasizes people's collaboration, participation, and common interests, and inspires their enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity. To ensure all-inclusive and sustainable development, China promotes equal access to basic public services for both urban and rural residents. It is sparing no effort to upgrade rural roads for a high-quality road network, so that all the people can enjoy the benefits of better transport, and a greater sense of gain, fulfillment and security.
2. High-Level Planning as Part of Overall National Development
Rural road development must serve national economic growth and the country's overall interests. Therefore, it is aligned with major national development strategies for poverty eradication, rural revitalization, and the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. China has ensured that rural roads fully play their foundational role for bolstering economic and social development in rural areas. Well-conceived plans that take into account future needs have been carefully devised, and weak points and transport bottlenecks that previously hindered progress in rural areas have been addressed. As a result, all towns, townships, and administrative villages where conditions allow now have access to asphalt and cement roads, as well as bus and postal services.
More efforts will be made so that rural roads offer improved, efficient, and diverse services and play a leading role in facilitating urban-rural integration, bridging the urban-rural gap, advancing the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and promoting common rural prosperity.
3. Exploring Development Paths in Light of Local Conditions
China has implemented targeted measures by giving full consideration to the development stage and conditions of rural areas in different regions and of different types. It has formulated differentiated goals and implemented supportive policies to build roads for rural areas in light of the economy, industrial layout, and people's needs for safe and convenient travels in their respective regions. The government has established flexible and well thought-out technical standards for rural roads that consider local conditions, efficient and economical land utilization, eco-environmental protection and the preservation of indigenous cultural tradition. Taking into account differences in resources, China has explored development models for rural roads in different areas, promoting the deep integration of rural roads with local industries, and tapping the strengths of local resources to extend agricultural industry chains and upgrade the industry.
4. Propelling Rural Road Construction with Reform and Innovation
China has continued to further institutional reform in the management and maintenance of rural roads, and improve systems, mechanisms and policies for rural road construction, management and maintenance, and freight and passenger transport. The goal is to establish a well-developed, well-conceived, procedure-based and effective framework of systems and institutions that coordinate the construction, management, maintenance and operation of rural roads.
The country has combined a well-functioning government with an efficient market. The government has increased its investment and mobilized non-governmental entities to address imbalances and insufficiencies in rural road development.
Focusing on high-quality development, China has invigorated rural road development through reform and innovation, fostered new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, and promoted high-quality development of rural roads to support Chinese modernization.
5. Forging Synergy for Development Through Coordination and Collaboration
In order to mobilize the enthusiasm of all parties involved, China has put in place a highly efficient mechanism for rural road management and maintenance. Led by the government, this mechanism features coordination and interaction among different departments across levels, delineating powers and responsibilities to ensure concerted efforts. Resources, capital and policies act in tandem to guarantee sufficient funding for rural road management and maintenance, especially with respect to major strategies and key areas.
The government has encouraged active and enthusiastic public participation in rural road construction and maintenance, while also leveraging the role of enterprises, public institutions, social organizations and international organizations. Creating model rural roads has been employed as an effective platform for provincial- and city-level governments to perform their coordinating and guiding roles, and for county-level governments to fulfill their primary responsibilities. All of this resulted in great synergy powering the development of rural roads.
1 Cited statistics in this white paper do not include the regions of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.