Focus on the 'Six Networks', State Council Announces Latest Deployment!

The 'Six Networks' are a major strategic direction for China's infrastructure development this year and a key driver for expanding effective investment. At the State Council's June press conference, spokesperson Li Qiang emphasized that during the '14th Five-Year Plan' period, greater attention will be given to supply-demand alignment, strengthening coordinated development of computing networks, new-type power grids, and next-generation information networks.

Li Qiang explained thatOn the aspect of 'hard infrastructure', exploring more effective models for power-computing synergy, achieving 'power-driven computing, computing-promoted power'; enhancing integration and innovation in computing networks, appropriately advancing nationwide direct-connect line expansion, and further reducing network transmission latency.On the aspect of 'soft infrastructure', strengthening monitoring and market-based regulation of computing resources, accelerating construction of a national integrated, convenient, green, and secure computing network system with unified scheduling.

The 'Six Networks' refer to water networks, new-type power grids, computing networks, next-generation information networks, urban underground utility tunnels, and logistics networks. These not only involve upgrading traditional infrastructure but also include new infrastructure construction. They are not merely a proactive deployment to sustain current stable investment growth, but also a forward-looking layout crucial to China's future economic development.

Li Qiang stated thatMajor infrastructure networks serve as the 'hard backbone' for advancing modernization construction. If we view the economy and society as a living organism, different infrastructure networks function like the respiratory, nervous, and circulatory systems—clearly defined roles and responsibilities must be established, and seamless collaboration and joint operation across all major institutions and organizations are essential to jointly support the efficient and stable operation of the entire economy and society.

Li Qiang noted thatIn recent years, China has made significant progress in power-computing synergy and computing network integration. Meanwhile, we also recognize that coordination between computing networks and new-type power grids still faces challenges in planning, pricing mechanisms, etc.; integration between computing networks and next-generation information networks needs further enhancement; and monitoring, regulation technologies, and institutional frameworks for computing networks still require breakthroughs.

Logistics networks consist of integrated systems combining logistics hubs, dry cargo corridors, loading equipment, standards, and information data, enabling cross-regional and cross-sectoral comprehensive services. This system serves as a critical foundation for promoting efficient flow of goods and resources. The goal of building logistics networks is to optimize societal resource allocation, accelerate the formation of networked economic efficiency, and further reduce overall logistics operational costs.

After years of effortChina's logistics network construction has achieved remarkable results. From the perspective of 'hard infrastructure', the national logistics trunk routes have been accelerated, with 181 national logistics hubs and 105 cold chain logistics bases rapidly connected into networks; over 2,700 logistics parks have been established at scale; and logistics hub points have basically taken shape. From the 'soft' regulatory technology standpoint, standardization efforts have been expedited—the '14th Five-Year Plan' period saw the release of 210 national logistics standards; public logistics data has been accelerated for open sharing, and information connectivity has advanced to a higher level.

Li Qiang pointed out thatChina's logistics network still has significant room for improvement. For example, from an overall efficiency perspective, China's total social logistics cost as a share of GDP was 13.9% in 2025—a reduction of 0.1 percentage points would save over 30 billion yuan in logistics costs. Additionally, from the standpoint of multimodal intermodal transport, the proportion of dedicated railway lines serving ports and industrial zones remains insufficient: nationwide, only about 50% of container freight operations in port areas are connected to dedicated railway lines; the transfer efficiency among road, rail, water, and air transport still needs improvement.

Going forward, the National Development and Reform Commission will work closely with relevant departments to implement the '14th Five-Year Plan' special program for modern logistics, comprehensively mobilizing various financial channels, supporting quality and quantity upgrades in logistics infrastructure construction, promoting systematic integration of logistics facilities, enhancing their adaptability and supportiveness to industrial development, optimizing end-to-end logistics networks in cities and rural areas, accelerating the development of intelligent and green logistics equipment, driving improvements in logistics network coverage, connectivity, and performance levels, and achieving a transformation from 'having' to 'being good' and from 'being connected' to 'being seamless'. The goal is to basically establish a fully integrated logistics network by 2030, characterized by tight coordination between warehousing and industry/consumption, internal-external network connectivity, green and smart infrastructure/equipment, and full-domain interoperability of standards and information—better serving high-quality economic development.