The National Development and Reform Commission, together with relevant departments, recently issued the second batch of the 2026 “Dual Priorities” construction project list, allocating 216.8 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special government bonds to support 336 major projects. These cover key areas such as artificial intelligence, urban underground pipeline network renovation, transportation infrastructure in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, high-standard farmland, higher education quality improvement, and the “Three-North” Shelterbelt Program.

Combined with the previously allocated 389.7 billion yuan, a total of 606.5 billion yuan has been arranged for “Dual Priorities” construction this year, accounting for 76% of the annual 800 billion yuan target. The pace of allocation is significantly faster than last year. At the same time, investment and financing mechanisms are being further optimized, “soft construction” measures are being accelerated, and supervision of central investment funds is being strengthened to generate more tangible work output as soon as possible.

Yangtze River Economic Belt

The Yangtze River Economic Belt is a major development strategy in China, encompassing provinces and municipalities along the Yangtze River, such as Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Sichuan. It aims to drive economic growth, promote regional integration, and enhance ecological protection, building on the river’s historical role as a vital transportation and trade route. The initiative, launched in the 2010s, seeks to balance development with sustainability, leveraging the area’s industrial and agricultural strengths.

Three-North Shelterbelt Program

The Three-North Shelterbelt Program, also known as the “Great Green Wall of China,” is a massive afforestation project initiated in 1978 to combat desertification and soil erosion across northern China. Spanning over 4,000 kilometers and covering regions like Inner Mongolia and the Loess Plateau, it is one of the world’s largest ecological engineering efforts. By planting billions of trees, the program has helped slow desert expansion and improve local climates, though its long-term ecological and social impacts continue to be studied.