The National Highway Network Plan jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport recently pointed out that by 2035, a modern and high-quality national highway network with extensive coverage, complete functions, intensive efficiency, green intelligence, safety and reliability will be basically built. The National Development and Reform Commission said a modernized network would increase capacity and help maintain a modern economic system.

Meng Wei, a spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, said the plan would involve upgrading about 58,000 kilometers of national highways and 110,000 kilometers of expressways. The improvement of the national road network service capacity and operational efficiency will further unblock the industrial chain and supply chain and support the national industrial development.

National highways make up the country's national trunk road system, which started in the 1980s and now stretches over 161,000 kilometers. These roads use electronic toll collection, and the accident fatality rate per 100 million vehicle kilometers is 3.3, which is about five times the average level of Western countries.

The new plan involves about 461,000 kilometers of national highways, including 162,000 kilometers of expressways and 299,000 kilometers of expressways. The committee stated that the goals of this work are the intensive and economical use of resources, green and low-carbon development, innovation-driven development, industrial integration and local government debt risk management.Editor/XingWentao