Photo: Xinhua

China's high-speed rail network hit the 40,000-kilometer mark by the end of 2021, reaching out to 93 percent of domestic cities with a population of over 500,000, An Lusheng, deputy head of National Railway Administration, said on Friday. This comes as the country ramps up a push to build itself into a transportation power.

Over the past decade, cumulative railway fixed-asset investment has topped 7 trillion yuan ($1.05 trillion), with an addition of 52,000 kilometers to the country's railway network. 

As of the end of last year, the country's railways that had been operational totaled 150,000 kilometers, including the 40,000 kilometers of high-speed rails, An told a press conference that summed up stellar headway the country has made in revving up its transpiration prowess since the Party's 18th National Congress in 2012.

The enormous railway network covers 81 percent of the country's counties while high-speed rails have been accessible to domestic cities with population of over 500,000.

At the press conference, Xu Chengguang, vice minister of transport, also revealed plans for major transportation projects, as the country aims to moderately dial up infrastructure investment ahead of schedule as part of broad-based efforts to stabilize the economy. 

A slew of strategically significant projects such as the Sichuan-Xizang railway and its auxiliary road are being built at a quicker pace to underpin a broader push to stabilize investment, boost domestic demand, create jobs, ensure people's livelihoods and bolster the macro economy, Xu said.

The country has built the world's largest network of high-speed rails, expressways and world-class ports, with Chinese high-speed rails, Chinese roads, bridges, ports and courier services becoming the country's business cards, the vice minister said speaking of China's transportation strength that has contributed to the world economy at large. 

China has become one of the world's busiest countries in transportation terms, with major indicators including passenger and cargo traffic by railway, highway, waterway and air, and port cargo throughput taking the global lead. 

Last year, the average daily number of ships entering and leaving domestic ports exceeded 69,000, and about 26,800 flights took off and landed every day across the country. In addition, the country's courier sector handled nearly 300 million parcels on a daily basis, according to Xu.

In the peak traveling season, more than 10,000 passenger train trips are made each day on average, while expressways record over 60 million trips made by vehicles, he disclosed, stressing that the data speak volumes about a country on the move that demonstrates its prosperous vitality. 

Global Times