The Paper.cn:

We have learned that since the opening of the China-Laos Railway, some ports in Yunnan and other regions have leveraged the advantages of combined rail and road connectivity, with annual cargo throughput reaching nearly 10 million tons. We would like to learn more about the development of port infrastructure nationwide during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Could you please share more details? Thank you.

Sun Meijun:

Thank you for your question. I would like to invite my colleague, Mr. Zhang, to respond.

Zhang Baofeng:

Ports serve as the gateways through which China opens up to the outside world. The government has consistently attached great importance to port construction and development. As part of the 102 major national projects in the 14th Five-Year Plan, specific projects were dedicated to expanding capacity and enhancing quality at border ports. As the leading authority for port operations, the GAC works with other ministries and local governments to coordinate development and security, continuously promoting high-quality port development. The main features of port development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period can be summarized as follows.

First, the port layout has continued to be optimized. As Ms. Sun just mentioned, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, in line with the country's regional strategies and the needs of opening-up, we have added and expanded 40 ports of entry. As of now, there are 311 ports of entry across the country, including coastal, inland and border ports. For example, there are now 125 water transport ports, handling more than 90% of the nation's port freight volume. There are also 85 air transport ports, distributed across the country, forming an aviation network that quickly connects different regions to the world. There are also 101 land ports, which serve as important channels for connectivity with neighboring countries. With the peak summer travel season underway, many self-driving tourists are choosing border ports such as Horgos or Erenhot to travel abroad. Currently, 28 border ports are able to provide self-driving travel services. Overall, China's port system — characterized by coordinated development across the eastern, central and western regions and the integration of sea, land and air transport — has been steadily improving. This is the first key feature.

Second, smart port construction has accelerated. We have launched smart port development pilot programs at 63 ports nationwide, with encouraging initial results. For example, at Ganqimaodu Port in Inner Mongolia, an unmanned cross-border transport channel has been established, enabling automated supervision throughout the entire customs clearance process. At Xiamen Airport, a digital coordinated system for customs clearance and logistics has been implemented. At Qingdao Seaport, container inspections are now conducted through cloud-based procedures. As you just mentioned, at the China-Laos Railway port in Yunnan, smart devices have been deployed to achieve cross-border data interconnectivity. An increasing number of ports have adopted intelligent and automated operations, which are now seamlessly integrated with smart customs, smart border inspection and smart maritime systems. This integration has made joint risk prevention and control at ports more precise and effective, while customs clearance has become smoother and more seamless, bringing a stronger sense of convenience for businesses and travelers alike.

Third, the handling capacity of ports has continued to improve. In 2024, total import and export cargo throughput at China's sea and river ports exceeded 4.3 billion tons, representing a 10% increase compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Throughput at airports grew by over 17%, and at land ports by more than 19%. These efficient and well-connected port channels have enabled more "Made-in-China" products to reach global markets faster, while allowing a greater variety of high-quality goods from around the world to enter the Chinese market more swiftly, better serving the needs of people.

Thank you.