The 13th Five-Year Plan period has witnessed the transport sector's firm support in steadily implementing major national strategies. The Beijing Daxing International Airport, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Intercity Railway, the Yanqing-Chongli Expressway, the 12.5-meter deep-water channel of the Yangtze River (from Nanjing to its estuary), and many other major projects have been completed and opened. This has provided firm support to the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region; the construction of Xiong'an New Area, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt; the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; and the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and the Hainan Free Trade Port. An interconnected framework consisting of six corridors and six channels serving multiple countries and ports has been basically built, contributing to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The 13th Five-Year Plan period has witnessed the transport sector's efforts to improve quality, increase efficiency and reduce costs regarding transport services. High-speed rail has transported nearly 70% of passengers travelling via train, and the punctuality rate of civil aviation has increased from 67% at the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan period to 81.65% in 2019. Reforms of the toll road system have been advanced, and expressway toll booths at provincial borders have been removed, thus greatly improving the operation efficiency of roads. Greater efforts have been made to adjust the transport structure. The railway cargo volume in 2019 accounted for 9.5% of total freight transport, up from 7.8% in 2017. The waterway freight transport volume increased from 14.14% in 2017, to 16.17% in 2019. The annual growth of rail-water freight container transport volume exceeded 20%, and the annual growth of express delivery exceeded 30%. The total volume and growth rate of express deliveries in China have topped the world for five consecutive years. Logistics costs have been reduced by more than 450 billion yuan during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, and the capacity of safety management of all industries has been continuously enhanced.
The 13th Five-Year Plan period has witnessed the transport sector's robust development in new technologies and new forms of business and industry. China ranks among the highest of all countries in terms of technologies for cross-sea bridges and tunnels, deep-water channels, and high-speed railways. Phase IV of the Shanghai Yangshan automated container terminal has been completed. Fuxing bullet trains have officially begun operation. Large passenger jet C919 completed its maiden flight. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has been applied in related industries. Facial recognition systems have been rolled out for high-speed railways and civil aviation. The number of daily trips for shared bikes has exceeded 45.7 million. New business models have emerged such as ride-hailing, customized shuttle buses, and internet freight transport. Terminals for smart postal and express delivery services have been widely distributed. Drones, unmanned vehicles and unmanned warehouses are being applied in the express delivery sector.
Since this year in particular, in face of the sudden COVID-19 outbreak, over 40 million workers in the transport sector worked in accordance with the Party's commands, and have been able to secure victory against the epidemic. While strictly implementing epidemic prevention and control measures, the transport sector has resumed work and production in a region-specific manner, sparing no efforts to ensure the smooth operation of logistics and supply chains. Firm support has been provided to build connections, ensure supply, and accelerate the pace in establishing a new development pattern.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends, as China enters the 14th Five-Year Plan period next year, the transport sector will follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, implement the new development philosophy, adhere to high-quality development, and establish a new development pattern. The aim is to build China's strength in transportation with wide popularity, strong support and world-leading capacity, and take steps to fully build a modern socialist China. That completes the introduction. Thank you.
