"If China wants to become truly strong, the most important symbol is transportation! Not just China, but every rising power in the world, the starting point and key point is to build a transportation power! No matter whether it is railways, shipping or aviation, it is no exception!" said Lin Laodao.
Liang Jiangtao nodded, this is obvious.
Transportation represents commerce, money, and even luck in the eyes of many people.
When transportation is strong, endogenous power can be activated, and the intensity of opening up to the outside world can be enhanced, taking advantage of international trade, and making the country gradually rich and powerful.
Even rural people know this truth: if you want to be rich, build roads first.
Agricultural societies like ancient China could not escape this law.
The reason why the Han and Tang Dynasties became prosperous has a lot to do with the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road.
Only when the trade routes are smooth can all nations come to court!
This is even more true after the rise of capitalism in modern society. Britain became the world hegemon because it defeated the Spanish Armada and controlled the sea routes.
One of the important reasons why the United States has become the world's hegemon is its monopoly on the Atlantic shipping lanes.
Of course, there is also the difference between inside and outside.
Guilt is fundamental.
How can we talk about being prosperous and strong if our domestic transportation is not good and smooth?
Just like a human being, if the meridians throughout the body are blocked and nutrients cannot be supplied smoothly, various organs, muscles, and bones will not be healthy and strong.
So there is consensus on this point.
Especially Minister Yanqing, whether he is the governor of Handong Province or the executive deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, his most important job is transportation, and high-tech industries must be pushed to the back.
Building a powerful country in transportation is an important goal at present!
"The core issue of future transportation development is the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail. This has almost reached a consensus as early as the 1980s!"
Elder Liang's words made Liang Jiangtao feel huge waves in his heart.
What?
A consensus was formed in the 1980s?
So why hasn't it been built yet?
Moreover, he remembered that historically, construction did not start until 2008 and it was not opened to traffic until 2010!
Why was it wasted more than twenty years?
"Grandpa, why?"
"It's a long story. I was in charge of the State Planning Commission at the time. With the advancement of reform and opening up, the economy was developing rapidly, and the problem of tight railway transportation capacity was becoming increasingly prominent! At that time, the Ministry of Railways would crack down almost once every three months. According to the report, the railway speed should be increased. Naturally, opinions on the construction of a new Beijing-Shanghai Railway are gradually included in the discussion!"
"The Beijing-Shanghai Railway connects the two largest cities in China and runs through four provinces and three cities. It accounts for 6.5% of the country's land area, a quarter of its population, and 40% of its GDP. How important is it? To put it bluntly, China In areas with the most active economic development and potential, the construction of high-speed railways is imminent! Moreover, at that time, Japan, Germany, France and other countries already had high-speed railways, and the technology was becoming increasingly mature, and they had successful reference and examples for building high-speed railways."
"However, one of the most realistic problems is always before us, and that is money! At that time, the country's primitive accumulation of capital had not yet been completed, and it could not spend so much money to carry out such a large project. The high-speed rail was built with RMB! The initial investment will be tens of billions, and there will be a steady stream of investment in the future.”
"I still clearly remember the preliminary research report of the Ministry of Railways. The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway is expected to be 1,200 kilometers long, with an average construction cost of more than 100 million yuan! The usage of cement, steel, concrete, rails, and ballast is astronomical! Construction is also difficult Now, I remember that at that time, the Third Institute of Railways was responsible for estimating the survey line. Dozens of experts carried measuring instruments and levels on their backs to carry out measurements on foot, crossing ditches and ditches. The section from Tianjin to Dezhou alone took three months! We also needed to introduce technology from abroad. There must be a complicated struggle, and we have to pay a huge price! At that time, many people thought that building the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway would be tantamount to crossing a natural chasm!" Mr. Lin recalled the scene back then.
Liang Jiangtao was moved: "In that era, this was an investment that was unthinkable!"
This is completely different from the later generations.
By the time Liang Jiangtao was reborn, China's technologies in all aspects were mature and its funds were abundant.
For example, measuring lines does not require manpower at all, just use drones. The detection line mentioned by Mr. Lin may be measured in two or three days, and it is more accurate.
This also shows that the earlier a business is started, the more difficult it is.
Of course, the construction of high-speed rail in later generations has not been smooth sailing. It is also a huge investment. I heard that in order to build it, the relevant departments have tried their best and used many methods. In the end, they were able to set up the frame and incurred a lot of debt. .
The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway was completed and put into operation very successfully. A few years later, high-speed rail fever started in various places and they were built one after another. I heard that the total debt of the railway company was several trillions.
For quite some time, the political significance and strategic value of high-speed rail have outweighed economic benefits.
If these were put in the 1980s, it would be an astronomical figure that would scare people to death.
"However, the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway will have to be repaired sooner or later. In fact, looking at it now, it is better to repair it late than to repair it early. At that time, it should be repaired against all odds! Don't forget that the earlier it is repaired, the lower the labor and land costs will be. Moreover, it is better to repair it early. If you use it early, it will have the greatest economic bonus. As for money, it will be used wherever it is used. It is better to use the money in the most basic places, and use good steel on the blade! In anything, laying a good foundation is the most critical ! As the speed of the high-speed rail increases, economic development will have a multiplier effect, and the entire country will speed up!" There was a regret that could not be concealed in Mr. Lin's words.
"Then why didn't we continue to push forward?" Liang Jiangtao heard the overtone of Mr. Lin's words.
"Alas, the matter was serious. At that time, I couldn't see many things clearly, I was worried, and in the end I didn't make up my mind. I am responsible for this matter!"
"You must not say that. No one has the ability to predict the future. This is the limitation of the times. Being stable at that time was also a choice that was in line with the conditions at that time!" Liang Jiangtao comforted Mr. Lin.
Mr. Lin took a deep look at Liang Jiangtao and said, "Who would have thought that this situation would last for more than ten years, and now we are in a more complicated situation, and we can no longer make up our minds."
"More complicated?" Liang Jiangtao raised his eyebrows, curious about the story behind it.
It must be complicated, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been delayed until 2008 to repair it!
There must be a fierce game here!
No wonder Li Changjiang assigned this task to himself. It was really a huge problem.
But since Grandpa and Grandpa Lin did not come forward to stop it, especially Grandpa Lin, who also told himself so much, it means that the risks behind this matter should be controllable.
Besides, the more difficult the problem, the more excited he becomes.
It is not difficult enough to practice abilities.
With his foresight, coupled with his current background and platform, what is the meaning of ordinary difficult questions? Too unchallenging!
Not avoiding difficulties has become a characteristic of his character.
