BEIJING, November 2025 — China having already built the world’s largest high‑speed rail network is now recalibrating its transport strategy to prioritize integration, quality, and efficiency over sheer expansion. Under the guidance of Minister of Transport Liu Wei, future efforts will focus on upgrading existing infrastructure, optimizing new projects, and deploying smarter transport systems that improve connectivity while reducing redundancy.

A key element of this strategy is the planned construction of a railway linking Hotan in Xinjiang to Lhasa in Tibet. The newly established state‑owned company tasked with the project signals that work is expected to begin shortly, aiming to create a strategic plateau rail corridor that will integrate remote western and southwestern regions into the national network.

Longer‑term planning under China’s railway development roadmap envisions a total rail network of around 200,000 km by 2035 combining high‑speed lines, improved conventional rail, and enhanced logistics corridors to support both passenger and freight mobility. At the same time, modernization efforts and targeted upgrades seek to boost operational efficiency, support regional development, and narrow infrastructure disparities between urban and rural, and coastal and inland areas.

By shifting from headline‑grabbing expansion to smarter, more context‑sensitive development, China aims to sustain its rail‑driven connectivity gains while adapting to evolving social, economic, and environmental priorities.
Source: South China Morning Post