Opinion

Construction of six major infrastructure networks balances immediate and long-term development

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting recently to analyze and study the current economic situation and economic work. The meeting called for further unlocking the potential of domestic demand, with measures to expand the supply of quality goods and services to drive consumption upgrading. China should step up the planning and construction of water networks, new-type power grids, computing infrastructure, new-generation communications networks, urban underground pipelines, and logistics systems, and promote the commencement of major engineering projects where conditions are ripe, according to the meeting. Unlike traditional infrastructure projects such as railways, highways, and airports, the development of these six networks deeply integrates concepts such as digitalization, intelligence, green development, and connectivity. Balancing both immediate development needs and long-term strategic planning, and closely linking investment in physical assets with investment in people, these six major infrastructure networks have become a crucial lever for China to tap into domestic demand potential and drive high-quality development.

In the short term, the construction of the six major infrastructure networks serves as a key measure to expand effective investment and stabilize economic growth. After decades of intensive development, China has largely completed its phase of large-scale investment. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, sustaining appropriate economic growth will require continued investment efforts. According to preliminary estimates by the National Development and Reform Commission, the total investment in the six major infrastructure networks and related key areas will exceed RMB 7 trillion this year alone. As supporting policies are rolled out, these projects will quickly generate physical work volume, delivering a significant boost to stabilizing growth and safeguarding employment.

Over the long term, the six major infrastructure networks are not merely physical networks of infrastructure; they serve as a strategic backbone for industrial upgrading and the cultivation of new quality productive forces. Against the backdrop of the deepening integration of the digital economy and the real economy, new types of infrastructure – such as computing infrastructure, new-type power grids, and next-generation communications networks – are becoming critical variables that will determine future competitiveness. Whoever can make forward-looking plans, design systematic layouts, and take the lead in building a highly efficient and well-coordinated network system in these fields will seize the initiative and gain the upper hand in the global wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation.

The construction of the six major infrastructure networks fully reflects China's strategic deployment to accelerate the development of new infrastructure. Connecting the present with the future, and balancing development with security, it weaves a new picture of high-quality development that attends to both material infrastructure and people's wellbeing. As major projects commence one after another, these vast networks – spanning above ground and underground, connecting urban and rural areas, and integrating the digital and physical realms – will surely inject a steady stream of momentum into Chinese modernization.

Policy

1. China on May 1 expanded its zero-tariff treatment to cover all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, creating new opportunities for Africa to boost exports and industrialization amid global headwinds of protectionism.

2. Three Chinese authorities, including the People's Bank of China, have jointly issued a notice to expand policy support for technological innovation and large-scale equipment renewal. The notice brings private small and micro enterprises with a high level of R&D investment into the central bank's relending policy framework. It also widens the scope of loan support for technological transformation and equipment upgrades to 14 sectors, including electronic information, artificial intelligence, facility agriculture, and commercial consumer facilities.

Data

1. China's e-commerce sector has registered stable growth in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, driven by supportive policies and promotional campaigns, the Ministry of Commerce said on April 29. Online retail sales of agricultural products increased by 14.7 percent year-on-year in Q1.

2. China's highway new energy vehicle (NEV) charging volume jumped 55.6 percent year-on-year on the first day of the five-day May Day holiday, underscoring a fundamental shift in travel patterns as electric vehicles have become a popular choice for long-distance journeys. Data released by the National Energy Administration showed that NEV charging volume on highways exceeded 23 million kilowatt-hours on May 1.

3. China's first large-scale green power direct supply for computing-power collaboration project - China Datang Zhongwei Cloud Base 500-MW Photovoltaic Power Station - was officially put into operation, marking a direct connection from desert wind and solar power to digital computing power in China's East Data West Computing project.

4. In south China's Guangdong Province, a major offshore wind farm project developed by China Huadian Corporation, situated off the coast of Yangjiang City, has started full-scale construction on May 2. Known as China's farthest offshore wind project, the facility will generate 1.6 billion kWh of clean power annually and reduce carbon emissions by 1.26 million tonnes.

5. China produced 52.26 zettabytes of data in 2025, an increase of 27.28 percent year-on-year. According to National Data Resource Survey Report (2025) released on April 29, in 2025, China's total data output accounts for approximately 27.44 percent of the global volume.

6. China has built the world's largest ecological environment monitoring network and is currently continuously optimizing its layout to improve quality and efficiency. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the number of national ecological environment monitoring sites will be expanded from the current 33,000 to over 50,000, achieving full coverage in carbon-emission reduction, pollution reduction, and green expansion, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

7. According to customs statistics, in the first quarter of this year, the pace of overseas market expansion for China's robotics industry accelerated. The total export value of various individually named robot categories reached RMB 11.32 billion, with products sold to 148 countries and regions worldwide.

8. According to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, in April, China's Bulk Commodity Price Index stood at 132.1 points, up 1.7 percent month-on-month and 20.2 percent year-on-year. Overall, China's bulk commodity market operations remained stable, continuing a positive development trend.

9. China logged around 1.52 billion inter-regional passenger trips during the just-concluded five-day May Day holiday, a 3.49 percent increase over the same period last year, the Ministry of Transport said on May 6.

10. Value-added tax invoice data released by the State Taxation Administration on May 6 shows that consumption vitality surged during the May Day holiday, with sales revenue in consumption-related industries increasing by 14.3 percent year-on-year, reflecting further release of consumption potential.

(Source: Economic Daily)