Workers from China Construction Eighth Engineering Division work on the G204 highway project in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, on January 6, 2026. Photo: VCG

Several regions in China have recently released their major project lists for 2026, with a strong focus on expanding investment to bolster their role in stabilizing economic growth.

East China's Jiangsu Province plans to implement 670 major projects this year, including 550 active projects - an increase of 50 projects year on year - with an annual investment of 664.6 billion yuan ($95.2 billion), up 12 billion yuan. An additional 120 reserve projects have been added, up 20 from a year earlier, ensuring that both the number of projects and investment scale remain steady, Xinhua Daily reported.

According to the list, industrial projects remain the mainstay, with 414 projects planned and an annual investment of 295.0 billion yuan, accounting for 75 percent of all projects. The number of infrastructure projects reached 118, with a planned investment of 323.6 billion yuan, while 18 projects focus on public welfare and environmental protection, with an annual investment of 46.0 billion yuan. 

In 2025, Jiangsu reported that 507 major projects completed an investment of 729.0 billion yuan, while 200 key private-sector industrial projects recorded an investment of 81.0 billion yuan. More than 200 major manufacturing projects have commenced operation, all exceeding annual targets, Xinhua Daily reported on Friday.

North China's Shanxi Province also unveiled its list of provincial-level key projects for 2026, covering more than 600 items across five major areas ranging from energy transition, industrial upgrading to science and education talent development, infrastructure and social welfare, according to the official website of the Shanxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

Meanwhile, North China's Hebei Province has approved a total of 747 key construction projects for 2026, with combined investment amounting to 1.56 trillion yuan, according to the province's top market regulator.

The projects span sectors including pharmaceuticals, robotics, the low-altitude economy and semiconductors.

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which is the nation's top economic planner, has recently rolled out the early batch of the 2026 major national strategies and security capacity building in key areas — along with the central budget investment plan, with total funding amounting to 295 billion yuan, Li Chao, NDRC spokesperson said on December 31 during a press conference, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The commission has earmarked about 220 billion yuan to support 281 projects in areas including urban underground pipeline networks, high-standard farmland, the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, and efforts to effectively reduce economy-wide logistics costs, further underscoring the strategic, forward-looking and overarching nature of building major national strategies and strengthening security capacity in key areas.

Global Times