China releases 13th five-year plan for developing railways
Collated by Yunnan Daily
Recently, Chinas National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the National Railway Administration and the China Railway Corporation jointly released the 13th Five-year Development Plan for Railways. As China breaks new ground in pursuing its path of opening-up on all fronts through the Belt and Road Initiativewith construction as a major focus, railways represent an important area and a priority for future international cooperation. Therefore, China will continue to promote internal railway construction, focusing on the central and western regions of the country while strengthening railway projects in areas with high populations of ethnic minorities, along the borders and in impoverished regions.
The railway plan also proposes to enhance connectivity with surrounding countries. China will implement and advance the Belt and Road construction jointly with other counties and the overall plan for infrastructure connectivity with surrounding countries. This will be done by strengthening international cooperative mechanisms that jointly promote the construction of backbone railways connecting China to other countries. Bilateral and multilateral exploitation of mineral resources and tourism resources will also be sped up, as will the construction of cross-border railways and associated support facilities. Strengthening cooperation with overseas land hubs is also a priority. This will be accomplished by building a secure, smooth, connected and comprehensive transportation network. The plan lists key railways and port railway projects, such as Dali-Ruili, Yuxi-Mohan and Fangchenggang-Dongxing railways and the Ruili, Mohan and Dongxing railway ports. These programmes further highlight the position of Yunnan as animportant node in the construction of the Y-shaped China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, as well as the China-Laos Economic Corridor.
