China to Expand Cross-Regional Transport Corridors in 15th Five-Year Plan

During a State Council press conference on July 21, 2026, China's Ministry of Transport announced its key infrastructure goals for the upcoming "15th Five-Year Plan" period (2026–2030). Vice Minister of Transport Xu Chengguang stated that the ministry will prioritize the construction of major cross-regional and cross-basin corridors. A primary target is to raise the completion rate of the main skeleton of the national comprehensive multidimensional transportation network to 95%, while continuously upgrading railway, highway, water transport, civil aviation, and postal express networks.

The transportation targets outlined for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period will dictate China's infrastructure spending, regional integration, and logistics efficiency from 2026 to 2030, serving as a key pillar for national economic development.

On July 21, 2026, the State Council Information Office of China held a press conference as part of its series on launching the "15th Five-Year Plan" (2026–2030). The briefing focused on accelerating the construction of a strong transportation nation and improving the country's modern comprehensive transportation system [6a5f2081ede12eee035fd544]. During the conference, Vice Minister of Transport Xu Chengguang outlined the ministry's strategic priorities for the upcoming five-year period. According to Xu, the Ministry of Transport will actively promote the construction of major cross-regional and cross-basin transport corridors [6a5f2081ede12eee035fd544]. This initiative is designed to enhance connectivity across different geographical areas and river basins, addressing existing bottlenecks in the national network. A key quantitative target announced for the 15th Five-Year Plan period is to raise the completion rate of the main skeleton of the national comprehensive multidimensional transportation network to 95% [6a5f2081ede12eee035fd544]. This network serves as the backbone of China's domestic connectivity, linking major economic hubs, urban clusters, and industrial centers. In addition to the main skeleton, Xu stated that the ministry will continuously improve infrastructure networks across multiple sectors [6a5f2081ede12eee035fd544]. These include railways, highways, water transport, civil aviation, and postal express services [6a5f2081ede12eee035fd544]. The ministry also plans to accelerate the construction of a modern logistics network to support industrial supply chains and boost overall economic efficiency [6a5f2081ede12eee035fd544]. The focus on cross-regional and cross-basin corridors reflects a strategic shift toward optimizing existing infrastructure and bridging regional disparities. By targeting these complex, multi-jurisdictional projects, the government aims to facilitate smoother resource allocation and economic integration across provincial boundaries. As China transitions into the 15th Five-Year Plan period, these infrastructure goals will likely serve as a critical driver for domestic investment and logistics optimization.