On June 30, the People's Forum magazine published the signed article "The the Belt and Road Initiative should go first" by Yang Chuantang, secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Transport, and Li Xiaopeng, minister of the Ministry of Transport. It discussed that transportation should shoulder the important task of "pioneers", play a leading role, promote the four in one connectivity on land, sea, sky, and online, and promote the three in one connectivity of policies, rules, and standards. Full text reprinted today, please pay attention.

  Facility connectivity includes not only the "hardware" construction of infrastructure such as transportation, but also the "software" construction of systems, rules, and standards integration.  

  Road connectivity and facility connectivity are the foundation of cooperative development. Transportation shoulders the responsibility of being a pioneer and plays a leading role. We should take the initiative to undertake this mission and work together to promote the four in one connectivity of land, sea, sky and internet, promote the three in one connectivity of policies, rules and standards, focus on key channels, key cities and key projects, connect the land road, railway road network and maritime port network, and promote the connectivity of facilities to a new level.

Breakthrough progress has been made in land connectivity, significant progress has been made in the construction and operation of maritime ports, and practical progress has been made in air connectivity

Infrastructure connectivity is a priority area for the construction of the "the Belt and Road". In the past four years, the transportation industry has undertaken important tasks and made positive progress in promoting the construction of the "the Belt and Road". A number of domestic and overseas infrastructure projects, such as railways, roads, ports, airports and cross-border bridges, have been started in succession, and the international transport service networks, such as China EU trains, international roads, international shipping, international aviation and express delivery, have been gradually improved, which not only promotes the connectivity of facilities, but also plays a leading and fundamental role in strengthening economic and trade cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road, facilitating personnel exchanges, and promoting the comprehensive construction of the "the Belt and Road".

The connectivity of transport infrastructure has been continuously strengthened. Focusing on improving the connectivity level of the "the Belt and Road", we have made positive progress in infrastructure construction and maritime cooperation projects along the "Six Corridors and One Road". Breakthrough progress has been made in land connectivity. The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway has been completed and opened to traffic, becoming the first electrified railway constructed and operated by China in Africa that adopts Chinese technology, equipment, and standards. Ya'an Wanzhou High speed Railway, China Laos Railway and Tehran Isfahan High speed Railway were officially started, and the Hungary Serbia Railway was orderly promoted. A number of landmark major projects, such as the China Russia Heihe River Bridge, the second phase of the upgrading of the China Pakistan Karakoram Highway, and the Pakistan Karachi Peshawar Expressway, were successfully started. The construction and operation of offshore ports have achieved significant results. The construction of Gwadar Port and Hambantota Port continues to advance, and the Colombo Port City is fully resuming work. Chinese enterprises successfully won the bid for the Kyaukpyu Port Project in Myanmar, successfully acquired the controlling shares of Port of Piraeus in Greece and took over the port operation. The China Malaysia Port Alliance was officially established. Pragmatic promotion of air connectivity. The layout of civil aviation infrastructure along the "the Belt and Road" has become increasingly perfect, and civil aviation airport construction enterprises have been increasingly involved in the construction of airports in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Russia and other countries and regions.

The level of international transportation facilitation has significantly improved. The China Europe Express has operated over 3900 trains, reaching 29 cities in 11 countries and forming three international intermodal transportation channels in the east, west, and central regions. China has signed 16 bilateral and multilateral automobile transport agreements with 15 countries along the "the Belt and Road", and successfully opened 356 international road passenger and freight transport routes. The signing and entry into force of the Agreement on the Facilitation of International Road Transport among the Governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, and breakthrough progress has been made in the revision and implementation of the Agreement on the Facilitation of Cross border Transport of Goods and Personnel in the Greater Mekong Sub region. 38 bilateral and regional maritime transport agreements have been signed with 47 countries along the route, and maritime transport services cover all countries along the "the Belt and Road". It has successfully realized direct air flights to 43 countries along the route, with about 4200 flights per week, and the "the Belt and Road" air corridor is increasingly unblocked. The Ministry of Transport and other eight ministries and commissions issued the Opinions on Implementing the "the Belt and Road" Initiative and Accelerating the Facilitation of International Road Transport to promote the docking of laws and systems for transportation connectivity and enhance "soft connectivity".

The docking of strategic planning has been accelerated, the international cooperation mechanism has been smooth, and the investment and financing mechanism of transport infrastructure has been improved

The transportation cooperation mechanism is becoming more optimized. Countries along the "the Belt and Road" jointly build a multi-level cooperation mechanism through the docking of strategies, plans and policies, and create good conditions for deepening cooperation. Accelerate the integration of strategic planning. Fully consider the regional advantages and geographical characteristics of countries along the "the Belt and Road", and organically integrate infrastructure construction into the overall framework of the "the Belt and Road" based on the principle of consultation, joint construction and sharing. The strategic docking and complementary advantages have been gradually realized with the plans of Russia Eurasian economic union, ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan, Kazakhstan's "Bright Road", Türkiye's "Middle Corridor", Mongolia's "Development Road", Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Circle", Britain's "Northern England Economic Center", Poland's "Amber Road", etc. The special plan for the transport infrastructure of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, the strategic plan for China ASEAN transportation cooperation, and the strategy for transportation science and technology cooperation have been successively introduced. The mid-term plan for the construction of transportation corridors in the Central Asian Regional Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy (2020) has been orderly promoted, and the Strategic Plan for the Development of Transportation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (2006-2015) has been completed and implemented, forming the nine major transportation corridors in the subregion.

The international cooperation mechanism is constantly smooth. Over the past four years, more than 100 countries and international organizations around the world have actively supported and participated in the construction of the "the Belt and Road", and important resolutions such as the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council have been incorporated into the construction of the "the Belt and Road". The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has successfully passed the resolution "Strengthening Intraregional and Cross regional Connectivity in the Asia Pacific Region". The initiative of "building a new model of regional civil aviation cooperation" along the "the Belt and Road" has received positive responses from countries along the line. At present, four mechanisms have been formed, including an air transport policy coordination mechanism. The "International Railway Transport Mechanism" has been successfully incorporated into the work plan of the Transport Group of the Universal Postal Union for the period 2017-2020. Countries and regions along the "the Belt and Road" continue to emphasize policy communication and development strategy docking, deepening the understanding of all parties on the "the Belt and Road" initiative, enhancing mutual trust, building consensus, promoting the docking of national policy plans, and forming a joint force to promote the "the Belt and Road" construction.

The investment and financing mechanism of transport infrastructure has become more perfect. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has 77 member countries, and its influence in the world is growing day by day. The the Silk Road Fund invested more than US $6 billion, and China Central and Eastern Europe Financial Holding Co., Ltd. was officially established. In addition, China has also signed memorandums of understanding and agreements with many multilateral development institutions and international financial institutions, and established cooperation mechanisms related to the the Belt and Road Initiative. These new financial mechanisms and traditional multilateral financial institutions, such as the World Bank, have their own priorities and complement each other, forming a clear level and beginning to take shape of the "the Belt and Road" financial cooperation network, which provides a strong financial guarantee for the connectivity construction of transport infrastructure in countries and regions along the "the Belt and Road".

Expand cooperation consensus, promote the construction of land transportation channels, and improve the international transportation service network

    In the implementation of the "the Belt and Road" strategy, transportation should "find the right place, fulfill the mission, do something, and play a leading role".

  Accelerate the construction of a safe and unobstructed international strategic channel network of land, sea and air that connects both inside and outside the country, strengthen mutual promotion and mutual drive between connectivity and international production capacity cooperation, and provide a strong basic guarantee for comprehensively promoting the construction of the "the Belt and Road".

Expand cooperation consensus and promote the integration of transportation policy rules and standards. We should adhere to the principle of mutual consultation, joint construction and sharing, strengthen docking, exchange and cooperation with relevant countries, jointly build a multi-level cooperation mechanism with countries and regions along the "the Belt and Road", enhance political mutual trust in communication and coordination, create good conditions for deepening cooperation, and lay the foundation for smooth cooperation among all parties. Fully leverage the role of multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms and international organization platforms, deepen consensus and promote practical cooperation within the cooperation frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Conference of Transport Ministers, the China ASEAN Conference of Transport Ministers, the China Central and Eastern European (16+1) Conference of Transport Ministers, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Civil Aviation Organization. We will continue to strengthen the docking with the transportation development plans of countries along the line, ensure that connectivity is targeted and orderly step by step, and strive to achieve coordination in the planning and construction of international transport infrastructure networks, so as to form a regional transport infrastructure network that meets the needs of countries along the line. Strengthen the integration of policies, rules, and standards, actively build a multi-level intergovernmental macro policy communication mechanism, align with international standards, deeply participate in the formulation of international rules and standards, promote the internationalization process of advantageous technologies and standards, and promote the formation of compatible and standardized transportation rules and customs facilitation processes.

Promote the construction of land transportation channels and serve the construction of economic corridors. Strengthening the construction of transport infrastructure and promoting transnational and trans regional connectivity are the priority cooperation directions for jointly building the "the Belt and Road".   We should focus on the requirements of "policy communication, facility connectivity, smooth trade, financial integration, and people to people connectivity", and accelerate the construction of a comprehensive transport infrastructure backbone channel network covering countries along the line. Promote the construction of transportation channels for economic corridors such as China Mongolia Russia, the New Eurasian Land Bridge, China Central Asia West Asia, China Indochina Peninsula, China Pakistan, and Bangladesh China India Myanmar. Focus on key channels, key cities and key projects, promote key channels, key nodes and key projects of railway, highway, water transport, civil aviation and postal express infrastructure, coordinate the construction of domestic and overseas projects, give priority to opening up missing sections, unblock bottleneck sections, improve road accessibility, expand early harvest results, and accelerate the formation of international transport infrastructure network, Quickly benefit the economic development and people's well-being of countries along the route, and play a demonstration and leading role. In the direction of the New Eurasian Continental Bridge Economic Corridor, the China Europe freight train will be used as an important carrier to deepen economic and trade cooperation between China and countries along the route, promote international railway freight intermodal transportation between China and Europe, and deepen international railway and mail cooperation. In the direction of the China Central Asia West Asia Economic Corridor, further promote transportation and trade facilitation in the Central Asian region, and ensure that the Joint Committee on International Road Transport Facilitation fully functions. In the direction of China Indochina Peninsula, we will promote new progress in a number of high-speed rail and railway construction cooperation projects such as the Yawan High Speed Railway and the China Thailand Railway, and accelerate the construction of the nine major transportation corridors in the Greater Mekong Subregion. In the direction of the China Mongolia Russia Economic Corridor, we will accelerate the construction of projects such as the China Russia Tongjiang Railway Bridge and the Heihe Boundary River Highway Bridge.

Improve the international transportation service network and enhance the level of international transportation facilitation. Interconnection is not only the connection of transportation infrastructure networks, but also the connection of infrastructure, regulations, and personnel exchanges. Accelerating the facilitation of international transportation is an inherent requirement for promoting economic and trade development and cultural exchanges among countries along the route. We need to improve cross-border transportation corridors and increase convenient transit stations and transportation routes for goods and personnel transportation agreements. Improve the collection and distribution system of port hubs, establish a batch of international road transportation hubs and logistics parks that integrate product processing, packaging, distribution, warehousing, customs declaration, inspection, agency and other functions, improve the intensive organization and optimization configuration functions of hubs, and enhance the ability to serve port customs clearance. Effectively integrate the resources of China Europe freight trains and build an efficient transportation organization system that combines trunk and branch transportation and hub distribution. Promote the accession and implementation of the International Convention on Transport Facilitation, and further improve the bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for international cooperation in transportation. Strengthen logistics information sharing and cooperation, and accelerate the improvement of cross regional logistics networks. Promote the construction of international transportation management and service information systems, and promote the exchange and sharing of information resources at land ports. Relying on the regional international network platform, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with countries and regions along the "the Belt and Road" in technical standards, data exchange, information security and other aspects.

Actively promote maritime connectivity and gradually build maritime transportation channels. Strengthen exchanges with countries and regions along the "the Belt and Road" and promote strategic cooperation in the field of maritime transport through bilateral and multilateral maritime transport talks. Utilizing the advantages of high openness, strong economic strength, and significant radiative driving force in coastal areas, we aim to enhance the external gateway function of domestic coastal ports, smooth international land water intermodal transportation channels, strengthen the connection between ports and comprehensive transportation channels, encourage enterprises to open up new maritime routes, increase the frequency of routes, continuously expand the international maritime service network, and carry out comprehensive cooperation with countries along the route in maritime transportation, port logistics, and other aspects, Gradually build the international transport corridor of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road connecting the inland and radiating the world. Strengthen comprehensive cooperation with civil aviation of countries and regions along the "the Belt and Road", advocate and promote regional air transport liberalization on the "the Belt and Road". Actively participate in global civil aviation governance and develop a higher-level international aviation service system.

Encourage production capacity cooperation in the transportation industry and enhance international transportation service capabilities. Promote comprehensive external cooperation among enterprises, and participate in the planning, design, construction, and operation of overseas transportation infrastructure through investment, leasing, and technical cooperation. Encourage enterprises to build overseas logistics centers and promote the development of international land sea intermodal transportation, international drop and drop transportation, etc. Support international road transportation enterprises to establish branches and outlets overseas, improve their overseas business network, and accelerate the creation of an international road transportation service brand with unified brand identification, unified transportation organization, unified whole process pricing, unified service standards, and unified scheduling platform. Actively carry out a package of cooperation in rail transit, enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of major equipment such as high-speed rail and urban rail transit, and explore the international market for port machinery, liquefied natural gas ships, and marine engineering equipment. Promote the "going global" of China's civil aviation, actively participate in the affairs of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and promote the upgrading of China's civil aviation standards to international standards. Actively promote the establishment of cooperation platforms with countries and regions along the "the Belt and Road", promote the output of standards, management, technology, products and services of China's civil aviation, support the design, construction and operation management of civil aviation airports, safe operation of airlines, domestic aircraft and airport equipment, air traffic management facilities and equipment and other groups to go global. Actively serve the construction of the "the Belt and Road" and the internationalization of related industries, and support qualified postal express enterprises to carry out international business.

Innovate ways to tell traffic stories and create a good atmosphere for the construction of the "the Belt and Road". Give play to the guiding role of the government, rely on mainstream media and new means of communication, explain and disseminate new ideas of China's cooperation and development to the international community, and continue to create a good atmosphere for the construction of the "the Belt and Road". Pay attention to the unique advantages of transportation that is close to the people and serves the people's livelihood, and deeply explore and vividly explore the economic and social benefits brought by transportation to the local area