Recently, the State Council Information Office held a press conference, at which it was announced that, in order to further expand opening-up, enhance cooperation, and support Chinese modernization, the General Administration of Customs and the National Development and Reform Commission, with the approval of the State Council, have jointly issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for Port Modernization.

Under this Plan, the following ports are included in projects for the construction and renovation of port infrastructure and inspection facilities: Tianjin Port, Tangshan Port, Huanghua Port, Dalian Port, Dandong Port, Shanghai Port, Ningbo Port, Weifang Port, Rizhao Port, Yantai Port, Zhangzhou Port, Nansha Port, and Yangpu Port. Meanwhile, the following ports are listed as waterway port projects under the smart port construction initiative: Tianjin Port, Tangshan Port, Yingkou Port, Dalian Port, Taicang Port, Lianyungang Port, Zhoushan Port, Ningbo Port, Wuhu Port, Pingtan Port, Jiujiang Port, Weihai Port, Qingdao Port, Chenglingji Port, and Guangzhou Port.

The Plan makes clear that by 2030, major progress will be achieved in port modernization, with a more optimized spatial layout, further upgraded infrastructure, full advancement of smart port construction, initial formation of a green port development model, more efficient cross-border connectivity, enhanced service quality for development, precise and effective safety prevention and control, significantly improved port governance capacity, and a more complete legal framework. By 2035, a Chinese-style modern port system will be basically established, providing solid support for high-quality development and high-level security.

The Plan also sets forth key tasks in several areas, including optimizing the layout of port opening, upgrading port facilities and infrastructure, improving cross-border connectivity, leveraging the radiating and driving role of ports, strengthening comprehensive port safety prevention and control, and promoting efficient port governance.

"This Plan is the blueprint for national port work during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period," said Zhang Baofeng, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs. He noted that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, national port work effectively ensured the smooth customs closure and operation of major national opening-up platforms such as the Hainan Free Trade Port and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. "During the '15th Five-Year Plan' period, we will stay focused on the development goals of port modernization in the new era, thoroughly build 'five-types' of ports—namely safe, efficient, smart, law-based, and green—and strive to build world-class modern ports with Chinese characteristics."