From "Supporting Service" to "Strategic Pillar": Reconstructing the Value of Logistics Under the Dual Circulation Pattern
The Proposal explicitly states that the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan will see the deepening of a new development paradigm centered on "domestic circulation as the mainstay, with domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other." This strategic deployment is reshaping the industrial positioning of the logistics sector – upgrading it from a "supporting service component" within the traditional trade chain to a "strategic infrastructure" that ensures the resilience of industrial and supply chains and facilitates the circulation of domestic and international markets.
As the "arterial system" connecting domestic and international markets, the value dimensions of cross-border logistics are undergoing profound expansion: it must not only ensure the efficiency and cost advantages of "Made in China" going global but also support the convenience and safety of importing high-quality goods; it must not only build robust "supply chain stabilization" defenses amid global supply chain fluctuations but also construct "efficiency-enhancing" bridges for new trade models. This dual role makes it a core variable in enhancing the nation's foreign trade competitiveness.
Elevated Priority for Opening-Up: A Logical Shift from "One-Way Export" to "Two-Way Connectivity"
Compared to the 14th Five-Year Plan, this Proposal elevates the priority ranking of "opening-up" as a key task from ninth place to fifth, reflecting an adjustment in the national strategic focus: shifting from past globalization participation centered on "goods export" to a high-level opening characterized by "balanced imports and exports and two-way connectivity."
This shift imposes new demands on cross-border logistics:
At the hard power level: It requires building transportation networks better suited to "two-way flows," capable of handling the large-scale shipping of bulk commodities while also meeting the precise delivery needs of high-value-added goods.
At the soft power level: It necessitates overcoming differences in regulatory rules and cultural barriers across countries to establish standardized cross-border service systems.
The future competition will be a comprehensive contest of "global rule comprehension capability + localized service capability."
Six Policy Signals: Decoding the New Coordinates for Cross-Border Logistics Development
By analyzing the policy context of the Proposal alongside the "14th Five-Year Plan" for Modern Logistics Development, six core directions guiding the development of cross-border logistics over the next five years can be clearly identified:
1.Building a National Logistics Framework of "Channels + Hubs + Network"
The Proposal emphasizes "improving the comprehensive transportation system and logistics infrastructure network," explicitly calling for strengthening the hub functions of international land ports, airports, seaports, and border crossings, while enhancing multimodal transport efficiency. This signifies that cross-border logistics infrastructure construction will enter a new phase of "integration" – connecting railways with ports, coordinating air and land transport, and linking domestic hubs with overseas nodes to form a cohesive "point-line-area" integrated logistics network.
2.Promoting Diversification of International Logistics Channels
Under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the Proposal proposes "enhancing the development level of China-Europe (Asia) freight trains and accelerating the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) in the western region." This provides clear guidance for cross-border logistics enterprises: while deepening operations along Eurasian rail arteries, they should expand ASEAN land-sea intermodal channels, forming a "maritime-land coordination and multidirectional connectivity" channel matrix to reduce reliance on single transport modes.
3.Strengthening Overseas Warehousing and Global Network Layout
The policy continues and reinforces the direction of "encouraging logistics enterprises to establish overseas ports, overseas warehouses, and distribution networks." This requires companies to transform from "pure transportation" to "supply chain integration" – utilizing overseas warehouses for "forward stocking + local delivery," and leveraging global networks to provide "door-to-door" end-to-end services, thereby enhancing support capabilities for new business models like cross-border e-commerce and overseas distribution.
4.Accelerating Digital and Smart Transformation
The Proposal advocates for "promoting the deep integration of the real economy and the digital economy." Applied to the cross-border logistics field, this means that "digital customs clearance," "in-transit visibility," and "cross-border data collaboration" will become core competitive advantages. From applying blockchain technology to cross-border settlements to optimizing transport routing with AI algorithms, technological innovation will continuously redefine the industry's efficiency boundaries.
5.Implementing Green, Low-Carbon, and Standardized Development
Guided by the "dual carbon" goals (carbon peak and neutrality), the Proposal requires promoting green transformation in the transportation sector. Green logistics is no longer just a regulatory requirement but has become a critical standard for international clients selecting partners – practices like new energy vehicle fleets, low-carbon packaging, and green port linkages will become "value-added advantages" for companies expanding into international markets.
6.Deepening Regulatory Facilitation Reforms
Breaking down "institutional barriers" to cross-border flows through policy innovation is key to reducing hidden logistics costs. In the future, cross-border logistics enterprises will benefit from reforms such as upgrades to the "Single Window" system, mutual recognition of customs procedures under bilateral/multilateral agreements, and simplified inspection and quarantine processes, enabling efficient "one-time declaration, seamless clearance" throughout the process.
Hebei Qihang: Capitalizing on Policy Momentum to Build a New Cross-Border Logistics Ecosystem
As a comprehensive international logistics service provider with over twenty years of industry experience, Qihang Logistics has closely aligned with national policy directives. The company has established an integrated sea-land-rail-air service system encompassing ocean shipping (covering major global ports), rail transport (connecting Eurasia via China-Europe freight trains), cross-border trucking (efficiently linking inland areas with border regions), and multimodal transport. This deeply aligns with the national strategy of "Channels + Hubs + Network."
Looking ahead, Qihang will actively respond to national initiatives, serve global clients, support Chinese brands in going global, and contribute to building a secure, efficient, and sustainable new international logistics landscape.
