The major port and shipping project quality improvement and capacity expansion initiative serves as…

　　How will various regions promote water transport to play a greater role in the overall economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period? What major water transport projects will be launched? Recently, local legislative sessions have been held across the country, proposing tailored measures to enhance the role of water transport. Shanghai aims to deepen the construction of an international shipping center, Sichuan plans to advance the development of an upper Yangtze River shipping center, Hubei seeks to systematically enhance the overall development efficiency of the "Central Triangle," Zhejiang is implementing world-class port and transportation province construction projects, and Fujian is promoting the modernization of southeastern coastal port clusters. By identifying their positioning and refining their strengths, regions will push for quality upgrades and capacity expansion in major port and shipping projects, drive effective investment, and continuously cultivate new productive forces to support regional coordinated development through water transport.

　　Steady Momentum in Water Transport Construction Investment

　　According to the Ministry of Transport, by 2025, the nation is expected to complete over 3.6 trillion yuan in fixed asset investment in transportation, with investments in highways and waterways exceeding 2.6 trillion yuan. From the waterway transportation fixed asset investment data for January to November 2025 already released, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Shandong have all re-entered the "100-billion-yuan club." Among them, Jiangsu demonstrated strong development resilience with a year-on-year growth rate of 19%.

　　Investment is a crucial engine for economic and social development, and strategic major project investments have a driving value. How can the momentum of water transport construction investment be maintained and its resilience showcased? Local legislative sessions have revealed their plans.

　　Jiangsu, leveraging its water network advantages, focuses on enhancing port hub capabilities and optimizing the waterway network system. It is accelerating the construction of the northern wing of the world-class port cluster in the Yangtze River Delta and continuously building the main framework of the "two vertical and five horizontal" trunk waterway network. Jiangsu's legislative sessions proposed creating a modernized water network and high-grade waterway network for "Water Transport Jiangsu," implementing projects such as the Lianyungang Port Xuwei Port Area port access channel, the second phase of the Huai River to Sea Waterway, and the Wusong River Jiangsu section improvement project.

　　Zhejiang has achieved consecutive years of leading waterway fixed asset investment. With the comprehensive implementation of the "Shipping Zhejiang" blueprint and the approval of the inland trunk waterway network plan, Zhejiang is focusing on building a "five vertical, eight horizontal, ten trunk" trunk waterway network and creating a world-class strong port. Zhejiang's legislative sessions proposed deepening the implementation of world-class port and transportation province construction projects and accelerating the construction of a high-grade waterway network. The "world-class port and transportation province system and mechanism reform" has been listed as a major reform initiative by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee, consolidating water transport development advantages and driving the construction of large-scale port and shipping infrastructure such as Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

　　The "Century Project" Pinglu Canal is set to begin trial operations in September this year. Guangxi's legislative sessions proposed ensuring the canal's completion and navigation and accelerating the construction of supporting projects. Guangxi plans to establish a smart operation system for the canal, release electronic navigation charts for the Pinglu Canal and the Xijiang shipping trunk line (Guangxi section), and accelerate pilot projects for intelligent ship navigation and support. As the key outlet of the Western Land-Sea New Corridor, Guangxi will advance the construction of 300,000-ton channels at Fangchenggang Port and 200,000-ton channels at Beihai Port, while promoting the construction of the Nanning-to-Guigang first-class channel on the upper Xijiang shipping trunk line.

　　Leading economic provinces are taking the lead, with the high-grade waterway network in the Pearl River Delta taking shape and the "one core, two poles" port layout continuously improving. Guangdong's legislative sessions proposed strengthening port construction and upgrades, enhancing the international hub port status of Guangzhou Port and Shenzhen Port, and planning the construction of a deep-water port in the Pearl River Estuary. Guangdong will leverage the golden waterway of the Xijiang River and the North River channel to vigorously develop inland waterway transport. The vision of "Maritime New Guangdong" is full of ambition.

　　Shandong is committed to building a dual center for Qingdao international shipping and Jining inland waterway shipping, focusing on constructing a world-class marine port cluster and a river-sea connected inland waterway network. Shandong's legislative sessions proposed starting the construction of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal and Xiaoqing River connection project and the second phase of Jining Port Liangshan Port Area, as well as advancing the transformation and upgrading projects of Qingdao Port Dongjiakou Port Area and Rizhao Port.

　　Hubei proposed accelerating the construction of major Yangtze River channel improvement projects and vigorously advancing new and ongoing projects such as the Three Gorges water transport new channel to boost high-quality development across the province through expanded and upgraded effective investment.

　　Hainan proposed accelerating the expansion projects of Yangpu Port, the third phase of Haikou Port Macun Port Area, and Sanya Cruise Port.

　　These major water transport projects are key measures during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period to promote cost reduction, quality improvement, and efficiency enhancement in transportation logistics, regional integration, and the development of gateways for opening up. They are also important engines for water transport to serve the high-quality development of local economies and societies.

　　Ports Embrace Automation Transformation and Upgrading

　　Ports have become a proud symbol of China's transportation sector. How can they seize the momentum? To further enhance the operational support and external service efficiency of terminals, various regions are actively promoting the automation construction and transformation of container and bulk cargo terminals.

　　Guangzhou Port has maintained its position as China's largest domestic trade container port for 17 consecutive years. Guangdong's legislative sessions proposed strengthening Guangzhou Port's status as an international hub port and accelerating the construction of projects such as the fifth phase of the Nansha Port Area. With a total estimated investment of 14.5 billion yuan, this project will create Guangzhou Port's largest and highest-grade automated container terminal. By 2025, foreign trade containers at Guangzhou Port will exceed 50% for the first time, and the fifth phase of the Nansha Port Area project will further transform the "largest domestic trade port" into a "dual circulation hub."

　　Shanghai Port has maintained its position as the world's number one container port for 16 consecutive years. Shanghai's legislative sessions proposed deepening the construction of an international shipping center and accelerating the construction of the Xiaoyangshan North Operations Area and the second phase of the Luojing Port Area renovation. The Xiaoyangshan North Operations Area, with a total investment of 51.3 billion yuan, will become Shanghai Port's largest single automated terminal, adding 6,100 meters of shoreline, equivalent to the total shoreline of phases one to three of Yangshan. The Luojing Port Area, the world's largest and most advanced bulk cargo terminal cluster, will achieve full-stack independent control of core technologies for automated container terminals in China after the integrated operation of phases one and two, while enabling full-category container transportation.

　　Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has ranked first globally in cargo throughput for 17 consecutive years. Zhejiang's legislative sessions proposed accelerating the construction of the first phase of the Fotu Container Terminal in the Liuheng Port Area. As the third "10-million-container-level" berth cluster at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, this terminal will feature seven container berths of 200,000 tons or less, creating a near-zero carbon fully automated container terminal.

　　By 2025, Qingdao Port will rank fourth globally in cargo throughput. Shandong's legislative sessions proposed advancing the construction of the Qingdao International Shipping Center and the container terminal at Dongjiakou Port Area. According to the "Qingdao Port Master Plan (2035)," Dongjiakou Port Area is the key port area for Qingdao Port's continuous development, handling the main incremental transportation demand and transferring some cargo transportation functions. This automated terminal project will consolidate Qingdao Port's overall container function advantages.

　　Jiangsu proposed accelerating the construction of the 200,000-ton automated container terminal at Lianyungang Port and the fifth phase of the unmanned container terminal at Taicang Port.

　　It is foreseeable that with the joint efforts of various regions, China's port construction will usher in a new wave of transformation and upgrading opportunities, continuously enhancing port service efficiency and development advantages.

　　Regional Coordination Promotes Water Transport System Connectivity

　　Water transport possesses the attributes of cross-regional and cross-basin major corridors, serving as an important foundation for promoting regional coordinated development. Various regions have proposed activating the advantages of major water transport corridors, improving cooperation mechanisms, and promoting mutual integration, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes between regions, thereby expanding the domestic circulation space.

　　The much-anticipated Han-Xiang-Gui Canal has made new progress. Previously, the Hunan delegation submitted proposals to the National People's Congress in 2023 and 2025, respectively, titled "Suggestions on Supporting the Acceleration of Xiang-Gui Canal Construction" and "Suggestions on Including the Xiang-Gui Canal in the National '15th Five-Year Plan.'" In 2025, the proposal to include the Xiang-Gui Canal in the planning and construction was listed as a key proposal by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference for the first time. It is reported that the transportation departments of Hunan and Guangxi provinces have jointly conducted preliminary feasibility study reports. The Han-Xiang-Gui Canal connects the Yangtze River and Pearl River systems, linking four provinces and regions in the north and south. This year, Hubei's legislative sessions proposed improving the cooperation mechanism among Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces to jointly promote and build cross-regional corridor projects such as the Han-Xiang-Gui inland waterway corridor, systematically enhancing the overall development efficiency of the "Central Triangle." Hubei has taken the lead by accelerating the construction of major projects in the Hubei section of the Han-Xiang-Gui Canal. The core projects, including "three ship locks and one channel," have already started orderly construction. Henan has also clarified its intention to accelerate the construction of the Tang River-Sha River connection project, driving the integration of the Sha Ying River basin into the Han-Xiang-Gui Canal via the Han River.

　　Another "Century Project" connecting the Yangtze and Pearl River systems—the Zhejiang-Jiangxi-Guangdong Canal—has also garnered significant attention. Zhejiang issued the "Implementation Opinions on High-Level Construction of 'Shipping Zhejiang,'" proposing the planning and advancement of projects such as the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Canal. Jiangxi's legislative sessions proposed solidifying preliminary work and improving project planning mechanisms, with positive progress made in the preliminary work of major projects such as the Zhejiang-Jiangxi-Guangdong Canal.

　　Using water transport construction as a foundation, collaborative efforts to promote regional coordinated development also include the development of the Huai River. The Huai River connects Anhui and Henan provinces, fostering close ties. Previously, the two provinces jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for Cooperative Development in Adjacent Areas of Anhui and Henan Provinces," proposing the joint construction of a convenient central water transport channel to the sea, accelerating the construction of the Tuohui River and Guo River channel improvement projects, starting the construction of the Sha Ying River Fuyang double-line ship lock, and exploring the establishment of a cross-province docking mechanism for channel maintenance projects to ensure smooth navigation of upstream and downstream channels and ship locks.

　　Anhui's legislative sessions proposed implementing the expansion and upgrading of the Jianghuai trunk water transport corridor and the capacity enhancement project for the Huai River basin water transport, advancing the construction of projects such as the Fuyang double-line ship lock and the Tuohui River channel improvement. Henan's legislative sessions proposed actively promoting inland waterway transport construction. According to relevant plans, the Sha Ying River and Tuohui River channels have been included in the "two vertical, two horizontal, four trunk, six branches + other channels" overall layout of trunk channels and are being prioritized for construction. By 2035, a modern inland waterway transport network connecting rivers and seas and achieving interconnectivity will be formed, contributing to the construction of a convenient central water transport channel to the sea, effectively reducing logistics costs, improving quality and efficiency, and supporting regional economic development.