(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

Jiangsu's investment in transport infrastructure in the first six months of the year amounted to 133.52 billion yuan, completing 66.7% of the province's yearly investment plan, amid efforts to build a modern and efficient transportation system.

In breakdown, completed investment in railway infrastructure reached over 36 billion yuan, the highest level in the same period, as Jiangsu strives to build an advanced railway network.

The province's investment into ports and waterway infrastructure picked up speed and totaled 12.78 billion yuan, which represents a year-on-year growth of 7.1% and accounts for 70.2% of the yearly investment amount.

Among achievements related to airports, the Yangzhou Taizhou International Airport started its Phase II expansion, and the terminal 1 of the Yancheng Nanyang International Airport was already put into use.

In the first half of the year, the province's ports operation remained stable in growth. Ports across the province handled 1.65 billion tonnes of cargo and 12 million TEUs, up 6.0% and 6.9% year-on-year, respectively.

During the same period, Jiangsu's freight trains with Central Asia and Europe recorded 1,095 trips, which marks a 7.8% year-on-year growth and accounts for 54.75% of the yearly target. Notably, the number of return freight train trips increased by more than 20%.

Amid Jiangsu's reopening and recovery, Nanjing resumed direct flights with Sydney and opened round-trip cargo flights with New York. Wuxi also opened a cargo flight to and from Incheon, South Korea, while Yancheng Nanyang International Airport resumed passenger flights with Seoul.

As of the end of June, the province's airports had 233 international (regional) flights per week.