China's fixed-asset investment in transportation to reach 3.8 trillion yuan
我国交通系统固定资产投资将达 3.8 万亿元
China's transportation sector made significant strides in 2024, expanding railways, high-speed rail, highways and airports to improve connectivity and drive economic growth, according to the Ministry of Transport's annual conference which was held in Beijing on Monday.
The country's fixed-asset investment in transportation is expected to reach approximately 3.8 trillion yuan ($521 billion) by the end of the year, maintaining a high investment pace.
Rail infrastructure continues to grow, with operational railway mileage exceeding 160,000 kilometers, including over 46,000 km of high-speed rail.
Nearly 50,000 km of new highways were added, along with more than 8,000 km of newly built or upgraded expressways.
The civil aviation sector also saw growth, with five new airports opening this year.
Passenger and freight volumes have kept pace with the economy. Cross-regional passenger flow is expected to reach a total of 64.5 billion trips, a 5.2 percent increase, while freight volume is projected to reach 56.5 billion tons, up 3.5 percent.
Furthermore, the port cargo throughput is expected to reach approximately 17.5 billion tons, a year-on-year increase of around 3.4 percent, with domestic and foreign trade cargo throughput growing by approximately 1.9 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
Key infrastructure projects include the completion of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan cross-sea link and the Huangmao cross-sea bridge, as well as the opening of new high-speed rail lines like Chizhou-Huangshan and the trial operation of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou line.
The ministry also reported progress in rural transportation, with 160,000 km of rural roads newly built or renovated, and 250,000 km under maintenance.
To enhance service quality, the ministry rolled out initiatives to reduce logistics costs, improving efficiency across all modes of transport. The number of rail-water container transport reached 11.5 million TEUs, increasing 15 percent year-on-year.
The railway network set a new daily passenger volume record of over 21.45 million trips, while civil aviation carried more than 700 million passenger trips in 2024, also a new record.
In line with its green development goals, China ramped up efforts to reduce carbon emissions, replacing 200 diesel-powered railway locomotives with electric models and scrapping 80,000 outdated heavy-duty diesel trucks.
Over 2,000 aging vessels were retired and more than 12,000 electric vehicle charging stations were added along highways — an increase of 57.6 percent year-on-year.
Technological innovation has driven the sector's transformation, with smart terminals, advanced aircraft like the C919 and C909, and nearly 2.7 million parcels delivered by drones in 2024.
Safety improvements were also a major focus, with over 100,000 km of road safety upgrades and more than 7,000 dangerous bridges renovated.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Ministry of Transport outlined a focus on high-quality development, including expanding the integrated national transportation network and enhancing international logistics. Key projects will include major expressways and high-speed rail lines, as well as improving cross-border logistics through initiatives like the China-Europe land-sea express train routes.
With ambitious plans for the year ahead, China is positioning its transportation sector as a key driver of economic growth, technological innovation and sustainable development, with far-reaching impacts on both domestic and global trade.
China vows to strengthen Yellow River ecosystem protection
我国将加强黄河生态系统保护
The Chinese government has pledged more efforts to protect the ecosystem of the Yellow River, the country's second-longest river, which is known as the country's "mother river."
The State Council and relevant departments will implement the strictest possible system for water resource protection and utilization along the river, Vice Premier Liu Guozhong said at a meeting held during an ongoing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.
At the meeting, lawmakers deliberated a report on the enforcement of the Yellow River Protection Law. The meeting was attended by Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
Liu pledged to improve the flood prevention and disaster mitigation system for the river basin, and to accelerate the transition to green and low-carbon development.
Market to adjust to needs of the elderly
Improved products, services to better serve nation's fast-aging population
我国市场适应老年人的需求
改进产品和服务，更好地服务于我国快速老龄化的人口
China has taken another step to boost the consumption of elderly care services and improve the well-being of senior residents, with an official guideline setting out specific measures to promote products that better suit the needs of older consumers.
The guideline, released by 24 departments including the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce, put forward measures to enrich services not only for older people living in nursing facilities, but also for those staying at home.
The authorities should develop smart home-based care, and continue to grant tax incentives to providers of affordable meal services for seniors, the guideline said.
Meal services are offered in many regions, usually via schemes jointly run by the government and the private sector, to address the needs of older adults who have difficulty making their own meals.
The guideline also encourages all regions to promote services that help older adults take baths, develop a smart system and professionals that assist and accompany them when they go to hospital, as well as help domestic service companies develop new services for seniors staying at home.
It also reiterates support for local authorities in promoting the age-friendly renovation of senior people's homes and the purchase of relevant products.
According to a report released in October, more than 87 percent of seniors in China choose to stay at home, while only 7.7 percent choose to receive care at elderly care institutions, with another 4.9 percent choosing day care services.
The report, which was based on a nationwide survey conducted in 2021 by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and five other organizations, said about 60.7 percent of older people surveyed want to live with their children for a long time.
The wide preference for aging in place means older people usually receive less professional care than those in facilities, highlighting the demands for various devices to ensure their health, safety and comfort at home.
At an expo for elderly care and rehabilitation products in Beijing on Nov 30, a man ordered an adjustable bed for his 94-year-old father.
The 66-year-old Beijing resident, who wished to be identified only by his surname Zhou, said his father is living at home, and is in good health, but an adjustable bed is needed in case his ability to move is compromised.
"Otherwise it would require too much effort from us to help him get out of bed or turn him in bed," Zhou said.
A 38-year-old woman, whose surname is An, went to the expo to shop for a scooter for her 92-year-old grandma, whom she said is living in a rural area in Northeast China.
An said her family had bought an electric wheelchair for her grandma, but it is too heavy to carry and transport.
Therefore, she was looking for a four-wheeled scooter that is lighter, safe and comfortable, but also within the right price range, so that her grandma can get around more freely in the neighborhood and go on more trips.
China has intensified its efforts to meet such demands this year, with regions across the country launching their own programs to boost the elderly-friendly renovation of homes, as part of the nationwide campaign to promote the trade-in of consumer goods.
In a program Beijing launched in October, for example, a family with elderly members can apply for up to 5,000 yuan ($690) in subsidies for purchasing products such as bathroom safety bars, smart toilets, wheelchairs and nursing beds, as well as remodeling services for bathrooms and kitchens.
Seniors in Beijing and their families can purchase 40 kinds of products online or at brick-and-mortar stores, and they enjoy a wide range of choices, because the program doesn't require consumers to purchase from certain companies.
Companies making products for older consumers have reacted positively to the home renovation programs.
Zhang Zaiyu, general manager of Beijing Huakangyuan Medical Equipment Co, which sells equipment including canes and stair lifts, said his company has seen an increase in sales thanks to Beijing's program.
Wang Caixia, business development director of Rehasense, a company that produces wheelchairs and walking aids, said the renovation programs serve to increase the public's awareness of elderly care products, and encourage companies to innovate their offerings.
According to the guideline, the country will continue to issue promotional catalogs of products for seniors, and push for the growth of sectors making related products.
The guideline also welcomes supermarkets and shopping malls to set up special sections of products targeting older consumers, and said that every October will be designated "elderly care service consumption promotion month", where coupons and discounts will be offered.
Zhang said China has started to pay more attention to its aging population, and the policies it has introduced to stimulate consumer spending have strengthened business confidence.
Wang said: "The rapidly aging population in China is a serious issue, but also poses huge market potential for assistive device producers. We hope to catch this wave of the silver economy."
The guideline also urges communities to provide more elderly care services within the distance of a 15-minute walk. It encourages communities, if they are capable, to offer community-based care for residents with cognitive impairment, and suggests they set up stations to sell, rent and install relevant products, and offer services such as running errands and making customized elderly care plans for older residents.
It's a priority to assist old residential communities inhabited by a large proportion of senior people to install elevators, the guideline said, adding that more seats should be installed in urban public spaces for senior people to use.
Public transportation systems should be more elderly-friendly, it said, recommending all regions to introduce more buses with low floors and low entrances, and to operate a proper number of barrier-free cabs.
It also supports major ride-hailing platforms and financial institutions in making their services easier to use for older clients.
Du Peng, president of the School of Population and Health at Renmin University of China, said the country's older population is becoming healthier and more educated, and an increasing number of them are living alone, generating diverse consumption demands.
On the other hand, the development of many elderly care services is still at a "rudimentary stage", Du said.
"If the products and services remain the same as they were in the past,... it will be hard to unleash the potential of older people's consumption," he said.
Elderly care consumption must be based on quality products and services in order to be sustainable, Du said.
"But high quality doesn't necessarily mean a high price," the professor said, adding that a lack of affordability will pose obstacles to consumption.
From: Chinadaily.com.cn
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