A container terminal. (File photo/China News Service)

China plans to build an efficient and environmentally friendly freight system in its western region by 2025 through expanding railway networks and sea ports, according to the latest plan by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The 2019-2025 plan said the number of standard containers shipped by combined railway-ship transport will reach 500,000, while the Beibu Gulf Port in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yangpu Port in Hainan Province will handle 10 million and 5 million containers, respectively.

The land and sea passage serves an important role in China’s western inland area and will greatly benefit development strategies such as the Belt and Road initiative and Yangtze River Economic Belt.

By 2020, a number of major railway and logistics projects will begin construction. Chongqing will build an Inland International Logistics Distribution Center while progress is also made in enhancing customs clearance and overall coordination of logistics.

As key railway lines are put into operation, the land-based freight passage using railways and highways will take shape before 2025, when Beibu Gulf Port and Yangpu Port will also assume important roles in international shipping.