Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

China has made substantial strides in implementing the 102 major projects listed in its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25),mk according to the National Development and Reform Commission. Impressively, more than 98 percent of the more than 5,000 specific sub-projects involved in the 102 major projects have either commenced construction or been completed, CCTV news reported on Sunday.

This achievement underscores China's unwavering commitment to enhancing its infrastructure, which serves as a linchpin in its strategy to navigate the intricate and challenging external environment. By investing in modern transportation networks, renewable energy sources, telecommunications and advanced technological infrastructure, China is shoring up its defenses against risks and bolstering its economic resilience in an increasingly complex global landscape.

In the current context, where global trade is challenged by protectionism, geopolitical tensions and other factors, the continuous improvement of transportation infrastructure in China, such as the ongoing expansion of high-speed rail networks and highways, plays a crucial role in both domestic economic circulation and the global trade landscape. By effectively reducing operational costs for enterprises, a continuously improved transportation network enables them to navigate complex market environments with greater ease. Additionally, efficient transportation capabilities foster coordinated industrial development across different domestic regions, facilitating the integration and complementary advantages of various regional industries. This synergistic effect acts as a powerful engine, continuously injecting endogenous momentum into the economy and enhancing its resilience and stability in the face of external headwinds.

Take the new western land-sea corridor, which has significantly tightened trade ties between western inland areas like Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and Southeast Asian countries, as an example. After years of development, this corridor has reduced the transportation time for goods from Chongqing to ASEAN countries from an average of 32 days to just 18 days, while overall logistics costs have decreased by approximately 50 percent. This enhancement in the land transportation system fosters industrial growth in China's inland areas, conducive to the development of China's trade ties with surrounding countries in light of frequent shocks to global supply chains.

Meanwhile, in light of the escalating US chip ban and the US "decoupling" push in the global technology supply chain, China's key technological infrastructure projects, vigorously promoted during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, have gradually become the key to breaking the technological blockade. Major projects focused on emerging sectors, such as quantum information, 5G and technological breakthroughs, are significantly enhancing China's competitiveness in the digital economy and technological innovation. During this critical period of reshaping the global technology landscape, these innovative infrastructure projects have enhanced China's ability to overcome external technological blockades by fostering an innovation-driven technology industry ecosystem, thereby injecting a continuous stream of innovative vitality into the high-quality development of the future economy.

Furthermore, in response to fierce competition in the clean energy sector, China's investments in energy infrastructure during the 14th Five-Year Plan period have demonstrated significant economic and strategic importance. Whether through the efficient utilization of traditional energy sources or the large-scale development of new-energy projects, these initiatives have bolstered the stability of China's energy supply. This not only provides China with a strong competitive advantage in the global transition to green energy, thanks to its controllable energy system and advanced clean technologies, but also accelerates the rapid growth of its clean-energy industry.

In conclusion, China's infrastructure push under the 14th Five-Year Plan was not merely a response to external pressures but a proactive preparation for continuous high-quality economic and social development. By demonstrating China's institutional advantage of concentrating resources on major undertakings, these projects built a solid foundation for China's economy to cope with challenges in the future global economic competition.