Staff from State Grid Yuanshi County Power Supply Company inspect a rooftop photovoltaic station at a technology enterprise in Yuanshi County, Hebei Province. (Photo/Xinhua)
In the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," the construction of China's "Six Networks" has been fully accelerated, drawing sustained attention from public opinion both at home and abroad. At the end of September, the central bank announced increased financial support for the construction of the "Six Networks," pushing the topic's popularity to a new high.
"This is a national infrastructure plan by China aimed at upgrading its vast physical and digital systems, covering the planning and construction of water networks, new-type power grids, computing power networks, next-generation communication networks, urban underground pipeline networks, and logistics networks." Bloomberg recently published an article interpreting the construction of the "Six Networks." The article specifically noted that unlike the previous approach of building transportation, energy, and communication networks separately, the "Six Networks" integrate massive infrastructure projects into a single comprehensive plan.
In the view of foreign media, the "Six Networks" will not only help stimulate economic growth but also improve people's livelihoods. The Economist published an article on October 1 stating that the construction of the "Six Networks" will help boost domestic demand and enhance China's position in the global economy. "This ambitious infrastructure construction plan is expected to inject much-needed strong momentum into the country's economy and help steer the global economy toward greater balance," the article wrote.
The "Six Networks" are continuously transforming from a blueprint into reality. The Economist cited a case: on Hengqin Island at the Pearl River Estuary, some projects of the "Six Networks" have already been implemented. Six meters underground, a brightly lit concrete tunnel stretches into the distance, with water pipes, power lines, and fiber optic cables neatly arranged along the tunnel walls. The article said this is the comprehensive utility tunnel project of Zhuhai Da Hengqin Group. Thanks to this project, the surface is no longer covered with messy cables, and underground pipeline maintenance no longer requires digging up roads or disrupting traffic. The tunnel is equipped with cameras and various sensors capable of detecting dangerous leaks, which can also ensure public safety. The story of the Hengqin comprehensive utility tunnel is a vivid microcosm of the "Six Networks" working in coordination.
Reuters commented on October 6 that the construction of the "Six Networks" promotes mutual coordination and mutual reinforcement among infrastructure networks. It is crucial to people's daily lives, ensuring stable electricity, faster network connections, safer water quality, cleaner cities, and efficient logistics distribution. "China's cutting-edge infrastructure coordination mechanism has already begun to show results." Reuters also mentioned that along the Pinglu Canal and at Ningbo Zhoushan Port, water transport, logistics, and digital networks are being advanced in parallel to expand capacity, improve flood control capabilities, and enhance efficiency. At the same time, China's computing power hubs, power grids, and computing power networks are continuously sharing data to achieve better matching of supply and demand.
From the past "single-point network construction" to today's "systematic network integration," China's increased construction of the "Six Networks" will not only multiply the overall efficiency of infrastructure but also lay a solid foundation for the high-quality development of China's economy.