As of March 20, 89.1 percent of 11,000 key projects in China have resumed construction, as announced by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In particular, among the projects, the resumption rate for projects was at 98.1 percent in southern China but at 60.3 percent in northern China due not only to the outbreak of the coronavirus but also due to the more suitable weather conditions for construction in southern China.
In particular, among projects in China, as of March 20 the resumption rates of road and water transport projects, of airport projects and major water conservation projects were 97.0 percent, 87.0 percent and 86.0 percent, respectively.
Song Qiuling, an inspector at the department of economic construction of China’s Ministry of Finance (MOF), said that the share of payments already made by the MOF from the central infrastructure investment fund to local governments is 12.6 percentage points higher than the share of payments made in the same period last year, and that this has provided solid support for the resumption of key projects.
According to Ms. Song, the MOF has provided RMB 250.0 billion ($35.2 billion) in vehicle purchase taxes, RMB 7.0 billion ($0.99 billion) in port construction fees, and RMB 24.0 billion ($3.4 billion) from the civil aviation development fund, to bolster infrastructure construction projects for roads, ports, and airports.