China Prioritizes 'Six Networks' Infrastructure Plan Ahead of 15th Five-Year Plan

Top Chinese leadership has repeatedly emphasized the planning and construction of 'six networks'—water, next-generation power grids, computing, new-generation communications, urban underground pipelines, and logistics. According to coverage by People's Daily citing National Information Center researcher Xiao Hongwei, the framework shifts infrastructure from isolated systems toward deep technological and operational integration. Projected investments during the 15th Five-Year Plan period include over 5 trillion yuan each for power grids and underground pipelines, 4 trillion yuan for computing networks, and over 6 trillion yuan for national water networks, supporting both near-term economic growth and long-term industrial modernization.

The 'six networks' initiative spans both traditional and digital infrastructure, serving as an instrument for domestic demand expansion while establishing the foundation for 'new quality productive forces,' lower logistics costs, and resource security.

China's top leadership has elevated the planning and construction of 'six networks' as a central pillar of its long-term infrastructure strategy, according to reports by People's Daily. The framework covers national water networks, next-generation power grids, computing networks, new-generation communications networks, urban underground pipeline networks, and logistics networks. Following initial discussions at an April 28 Politburo meeting, the Politburo reaffirmed the plan on July 30, and the State Council subsequently issued specific deployments focused on power grids and logistics on July 31. According to Xiao Hongwei, a researcher and director at the National Information Center's Policy Simulation Lab under the National Development and Reform Commission, the deployment is designed to balance near-term economic stabilization with long-term industrial upgrading ahead of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Xiao noted that in 2026 alone, investment across these six networks and related key sectors is projected to surpass 7 trillion yuan. Over the broader 15th Five-Year Plan period, projected direct capital expenditure includes over 5 trillion yuan for modern power grids, roughly 5 trillion yuan for urban underground pipelines, 4 trillion yuan in new direct investment for computing networks, and over 6 trillion yuan for the national water network. Beyond capital scale, Xiao highlighted a structural shift from standalone construction toward systemic convergence. This integration operates across three main dimensions: the pairing of computing and electricity (using smart computing to balance green power grids), the pairing of computing and communications (achieving inter-hub network transmission latencies under 20 milliseconds across eight national computing hubs), and broad multi-network synergy. Under this combined framework, modern power grids provide energy, computing networks handle operational scheduling, communications arteries route data, logistics systems accelerate goods circulation, and municipal pipelines safeguard urban resilience and safety.