South China Morning Post:

The 14th Five-Year Plan included 102 major projects. Will the investment intensity decrease over the next five years? What are the main investment areas? Thank you.

Zheng Shanjie:

Mr. Li will take these questions.

Li Chunlin:

China's per capita GDP has just exceeded $13,000. To further promote economic development and improve people's living standards, we must maintain a certain level of investment intensity. After more than four years of solid progress, the 102 major projects you mentioned have achieved significant progress and substantial results. All planned goals are expected to be completed by the end of the year. These accomplishments can be summarized as the "five new" developments

First, infrastructure has created a "new support" for economic circulation. Major transportation infrastructure projects have been completed and put into operation, including the Guiyang-Nanning High-Speed Railway, the Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway, the China-Laos Railway, and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. Major projects like the Sichuan-Xizang Railway and the Pinglu Canal are progressing steadily. Approximately 90% of county-level administrative centers nationwide now have 30-minute access to expressways, and high-speed rail coverage reaches 97% of cities with populations over 500,000. This provides solid support for facilitating both domestic and international economic circulation.

Second, scientific and technological breakthroughs have empowered economic development with "new vitality." Many cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements have made major breakthroughs. The Zhurong rover achieved the first successful Mars landing; The Chang'e 5 mission brought back lunar soil samples that are now being shared for research with six countries; and the Zuchongzhi 3 quantum computing prototype leads globally. Meanwhile, the EAST nuclear fusion experimental device broke the world record by maintaining plasma at 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds in steady-state high-confinement mode.

Third, ecological conservation has created "new miracles" for a beautiful China. The most notable example is the comprehensive launch of three major symbolic campaigns in the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program. The Yellow River's Great Bend region has witnessed greenery advancing and sand retreating. The campaign to eliminate moving sand dunes in Horqin and Hunshandake has effectively curbed sandstorm sources affecting Beijing and Tianjin. Along the edge of the Taklimakan Desert, a sand-blocking protective belt stretching over 3,000 kilometers has been constructed, forming a "Green Great Wall." I worked for nine years in Yulin, Shaanxi province, in the heart of the desert region within the Yellow River's Great Bend. The approximately 573,620 hectares (8.6 million mu) of the Mu Us Desert have been comprehensively managed, and the area has been designated as a National Forest City. It is now the season when vegetation is lush and green. So, I welcome everyone to visit and see for yourselves.

Fourth, public welfare projects have enhanced the "new quality" of people's lives. We supported the construction of 125 regional medical centers, providing comprehensive coverage for provinces in central and western regions where high-quality medical resources are relatively limited. We have also assisted 707 county-level hospitals in reaching tertiary hospital standards and accelerated progress toward ensuring that major illnesses can be treated without leaving the province, common illnesses are addressed at the city and county levels, and routine medical care is managed at the primary level. We have also added over 500,000 student dormitory beds and supported undergraduate enrollment expansion at Double First-Class universities. Meanwhile, we have supported aging-friendly renovations for 2.08 million households in need and provided rehabilitation assistance to over 1.7 million disabled children, delivering greater warmth and care in protecting older adults and children.

Fifth, safety engineering projects have built a "new foundation" for national security. Construction of infrastructure for six emergency rescue centers covering different regions nationwide has been completed. These centers feature increasingly modern rescue equipment and enhanced emergency response capabilities. At the same time, the four major oil and gas strategic channels have been continuously improved, the total storage capacity of reservoirs nationwide has reached 1 trillion cubic meters, and China's number of dams ranks highest in the world, ensuring high-quality development with high-level security.

Next, the NDRC will continue to strengthen coordination among various departments and between the central and local governments to ensure the successful completion of 102 major projects. At the same time, we will adopt a strategic approach in planning major projects for the 15th Five-Year Plan period and provide a more solid guarantee for pursuing Chinese modernization. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

One last question, please.