Li Yang:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good afternoon. I am very pleased to join you today to witness the release of the white paper "China's Rural Roads in the New Era." Thank you all for your interest in and support for the development of rural road infrastructure.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, as well as the 10th anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instruction to further improve the construction, management, maintenance and operation of rural roads. Guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping's important directives on rural roads, people of all ethnic groups in China have overcome mountains by building roads, crossed rivers by building bridges, and tackled difficulties, continuously promoting the high-quality development of rural roads. This has led to historic achievements and paved a development path for rural roads that is in line with China's national conditions, adapted to local conditions, and is practical. It has also contributed Chinese wisdom to the global poverty reduction cause and provided Chinese solutions. I will now briefly introduce the main contents of the white paper "China's Rural Roads in the New Era" from four aspects.

One aspect of the white paper is that it systematically expounds on the basic principles of China's rural road development. These basic principles can be summarized in five aspects:

First, people-centered approach. We remain committed to the development philosophy that prioritizes the people and focuses on their well-being, striving to meet the public's demand for better travel.

Second, high-level planning as a part of overall national development. We have focused our efforts on serving the central task of economic development and the overall interests of the country, positioning rural road development within major tasks that are crucial to the country's overall development, including poverty alleviation, the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, and the modernization of agricultural sector and rural areas.

Third, exploring development paths in light of local conditions. We have taken into account the development stage and conditions of rural areas in different regions and of different types, and formulate differentiated development goals and supportive policies to ensure that rural roads align with the regional economic development level, rural industrial layout and the public's demand for safe, efficient and convenient travel.

Fourth, propelling rural road construction with reform and innovation. We continue to deepen the institutional reform of rural road management and maintenance systems, using reform and innovation to invigorate the development of rural roads.

Fifth, forging synergy for development through coordination and collaboration. We continue to motivate all parties involved, establishing a work framework under which Party committees exercise leadership, governments play a principal role, government departments across different levels coordinate their actions to ensure efficient operation, thus creating a powerful force for development.

The second aspect of the white paper is that it provides a comprehensive introduction to the practices and achievements in China's rural road development. Based on the foundation of "construction," we have accelerated the creation of an extensive rural road network that connects villages and towns. Over the past decade, we have constructed and upgraded 2.5 million kilometers of rural roads. By the end of 2023, the total length of rural roads in China reached 4.6 million kilometers, with all towns, townships, and administrative villages where conditions allow now having access to asphalt and cement roads. A rural transport infrastructure network in which county roads connect rural and urban areas, township roads crisscross, and village roads facilitate travel between households and farmland is in place. Our rural roads are not only built quickly but also beautifully. Every year, we select the top 10 most beautiful rural roads. Recently, in coordination with the white paper, we published a book titled "Rural Roads in China." I would like to recommend this book to all the journalists here. In it, you can explore many of China's most beautiful rural roads. We also welcome friends from the media to visit these roads, experience the beauty of China's countryside, and feel the rich and diverse rural culture.

By taking "effective management" as a means, we have accelerated the establishment of a standardized and efficient rural road governance system. In the white paper, we further summarize how to improve governance and management effectiveness, promote the rural road management system, improve laws and regulations, and issue guiding policy documents, especially technical standards. We have fully implemented the road chief system for rural roads, which has become well-known to everyone. This system aims to drive continuous improvements in the rural road governance framework.

Taking maintenance as the guarantee, we have accelerated the development of an applicable and diverse rural road management and maintenance system. We are not only focused on building roads, but also on maintaining them. Grasping key areas such as improving road conditions, ensuring safety and enhancing the roadside environment, we continuously strive to improve management and maintenance efficiency. The white paper includes a special section showcasing the progress in improving the proportion of rural roads classified as premier, good or medium condition. Over the past decade, this rate has increased by 10 percentage points, effectively realizing the principle of "every road must be maintained, and maintenance must be effective."

Taking good operation as the goal, we have accelerated the improvement of a convenient and balanced rural transport service system. The purpose of building roads is to better facilitate travel for rural residents. Guided by this goal, we have enhanced equal access in urban and rural transport services, promoted the integrated development of passenger, freight and postal services in rural areas, and facilitated the smooth flow of people and goods between urban and rural areas, as well as among townships. This has played a crucial role in enabling the equal exchange of production factors between urban and rural areas and balanced allocation of public resources.

The third aspect the white paper highlights is China's contributions to the development of rural roads in developing countries through promoting technical standards, sharing development experiences, and supporting local rural road construction. First, we have continuously expanded the availability and application of foreign-language editions of China's highway engineering standards, allowing more of the international community to understand China's road standards, particularly for rural roads. Second, we have established international exchange and cooperation platforms, actively participated in the work of international organizations, and conducted international training programs to share and exchange experiences in rural road development. Third, we have participated in international construction projects. For instance, a special section in the white paper introduces China's support for Ecuador's Ministry of Transport in post-disaster reconstruction. Through construction projects like these, along with technical support and human resources, we are helping developing countries to improve their rural transportation conditions.

The fourth aspect of the white paper is that it articulates China's firm stance on working with all countries to continue promoting global rural road development and poverty reduction.

These are the key points of the white paper that I wanted to introduce. Thank you.