In 2024, China Development Bank (CDB) has taken significant strides in supporting public infrastructure projects designed to serve both routine and emergency needs. In line with national priorities and under the guidance of central authorities, CDB has extended its financial support to 136 dual-use infrastructure projects across major cities—including Beijing, Shenzhen, and Fuzhou—by disbursing a total of 20.4 billion yuan in loans.

CDB's proactive approach is rooted in the principles of market-oriented reforms and the rule of law. Following the issuance of national policies, the bank promptly formulated and disseminated corresponding credit support measures, ensuring that its "dual-use" financial services were activated nationwide. In addition, CDB has intensified its business training efforts by inviting officials from relevant ministries to provide policy interpretations and practical guidance, enabling its staff to accurately implement national directives.

After the National Development and Reform Commission released the first batch of designated cities for dual-use projects, CDB coordinated closely with local work teams to leverage its industry research and financial expertise. This collaborative effort with municipal governments has expedited the early-stage work on numerous projects, helping to convert high-quality, mature proposals into tangible construction projects. When the second batch of cities was announced, CDB quickly replicated its successful experiences by liaising with local authorities and market players to ensure that preferential policies were promptly transmitted and that project financing advanced without delay.

The bank's targeted support has yielded notable progress in several key urban centers:

•Shenzhen:Under the financing support of CDB's Shenzhen branch, the Shenzhen International Comprehensive Logistics Hub Center project marked significant progress with its main structure topping out. As one of Shenzhen's inaugural dual-use public infrastructure projects, the project is being constructed in two phases. Its first phase—a railway container center station—has already commenced operations, serving both international routes (including China-Europe and China-Laos trains) and domestic connections such as Shenzhen to Changsha and Chengdu. In 2024, the bank led a syndicated loan initiative for the second phase, a smart logistics complex, disbursing over 1.84 billion yuan, with CDB's share amounting to 1.01 billion yuan. Upon completion, the complex is expected to integrate high-standard warehousing, integrated distribution, urban delivery, cross-border e-commerce, cold storage, and intelligent warehousing, positioning it as China's first smart logistics park built atop a traditional railway freight station.

•Fuzhou:The Fuzhou Mintian International Logistics Center project, supported by CDB's Fujian branch, recently celebrated the topping-out of 18 main buildings in its western zone. As one of Fujian Province's initial dual-use public infrastructure projects, the center is set to become a comprehensive, intelligent commerce and trade distribution hub. It will consolidate functions such as agricultural wholesale trade, sorting, processing, distribution, and e-commerce. This development is expected to play a pivotal role in expanding consumption and ensuring a stable supply of essential goods in Fuzhou and its surrounding regions.

•Beijing:In Beijing, the JD Pinggu Intelligent Industrial Park project has also made remarkable progress with its first phase achieving structural topping-out. Located in Pinggu District—a pilot zone for dual-use infrastructure development—this project represents JD Group's largest logistics endeavor in the city. In 2024, CDB's Beijing branch provided timely financial backing with long-term loans totaling 700 million yuan, ensuring that the project continues to progress toward its second phase. Once complete, the industrial park will integrate functions such as regional operational settlement, technological research and development, emergency supplies management, warehousing, processing, cold chain logistics, and urban delivery, thereby strengthening Beijing's coordinated logistics industry and enhancing its emergency supply capacity.

Reflecting on these initiatives, Guan Hongyan, General Manager of the Transportation Business Department at China Development Bank, stated, "In line with the spirit of the central economic work conference and national financial system directives, we are committed to providing high-quality financial services for dual-use public infrastructure projects. By increasing long-term financing support, we aim to ensure that projects with mature conditions are implemented promptly, effectively addressing urban emergency preparedness shortfalls and bolstering overall city resilience."

Relevance for International Businesses

For foreign investors and multinational companies, these developments in China's public infrastructure not only signal robust domestic support for modern urban logistics and emergency supply systems but also underscore China's commitment to upgrading its urban resilience. Enhanced infrastructure in major cities like Shenzhen, Fuzhou, and Beijing presents opportunities for cross-border trade, integrated supply chain management, and investment in smart logistics platforms. Companies engaged in international trade, logistics, and supply chain optimization may find these developments especially pertinent, as they contribute to a more reliable and efficient operational environment.