Logistics is an important component of a nation’s core competitiveness.

The logistics industry is a foundational, strategic, and pioneering sector that underpins national economic development. High-quality logistics development is an essential component of high-quality economic growth and an indispensable driving force for advancing it. As the saying goes, “Logistics is the lifeblood of the economy”; a country’s logistical strength directly shapes its position and competitive edge in global competition. The level of a nation’s core logistical competitiveness is one of the key factors for achieving high-quality economic development.

I. How to Understand That Logistics Is an Important Component of a Nation’s Core Competitiveness

To fully appreciate that logistics is a vital component of a nation’s core competitiveness, it is necessary to analyze it from the following perspectives:

1. The role of logistics in the industrial chain. Logistics is a critical link in the industrial chain, significantly influencing the overall efficiency and operational performance of the entire value chain. An efficient logistics system can enhance coordination among supply-chain participants, reduce costs, and facilitate optimal resource allocation, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of national industries.

2. The Role of Logistics in the Innovation Chain. Logistics plays a pivotal role within the innovation chain, which encompasses all stages of the innovation process—research and development, design, production, marketing, and more. As a critical link that connects these stages and facilitates the smooth flow of information, goods, and capital, logistics helps translate innovative outcomes into market applications swiftly, fostering close integration between technological advancement and industrial development, and enhancing a nation’s innovation capacity and core competitiveness.

3. The Role of Logistics in the Capital Chain. Logistics plays a crucial role in the capital chain. Logistics operations require substantial capital investment, with procurement, transportation, warehousing, and distribution all demanding financial support. An efficient logistics system can reduce logistics costs, enhance capital turnover efficiency, and minimize capital tied up, thereby freeing up more funds for businesses and the nation and supporting the high-quality development of the real economy.

4. The role of logistics in the talent chain. The development of logistics requires a highly qualified workforce. Logistics professionals span multiple domains, including operations research and planning, supply chain management, and information technology. By cultivating experts who are both specialized and well-versed in international logistics regulations and operational procedures, we can enhance the efficiency and quality of logistics systems, elevate service standards, and strengthen a nation’s influence and competitiveness within the global supply chain.

As an essential component of a nation’s core competitiveness, logistics facilitates the efficient movement of goods, the rapid commercialization of innovative ideas, the optimal allocation of capital, and the cultivation and recruitment of talent, thereby driving economic growth and enhancing overall national competitiveness.

II. How to Enhance the National Core Competitiveness of Logistics

To enhance the nation’s core competitiveness and overall level in logistics, the following measures should be adopted:

1. A Solid Foundation—Building a Comprehensive, Efficient, and Convenient Infrastructure. The state should strengthen the development of logistics infrastructure that is seamlessly integrated with transportation networks. It should plan and upgrade a number of multimodal logistics hubs that support regional and industrial economic growth, enhance the coverage and connectivity of the logistics network, and establish a robust dual-circulation logistics system.

2. Strong Momentum—Strengthening Technological Innovation and Application. Technological innovation is one of the key factors in enhancing the core competitiveness of the logistics sector. The state should increase investment in logistics R&D, striving to achieve breakthroughs in basic and applied research, critical core technologies, and cutting-edge innovations; uphold coordinated development across the upstream and downstream segments of the industrial chain; and comprehensively advance the digital transformation and upgrading of the logistics industry. Leveraging the multidisciplinary nature of logistics, we should actively promote the deep integration and application of frontier technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence. We should encourage innovation in smart logistics technologies and business models, facilitate the commercialization of innovative outcomes, expand the range of commercial applications for smart logistics, and accelerate the adoption of automated, unmanned, and intelligent logistics equipment, as well as smart management technologies like automatic sensing, automated control, and intelligent decision-making. Furthermore, we should expedite the construction of high-end standardized warehouses and intelligent three-dimensional storage facilities, and develop and disseminate cost-effective, modular, user-friendly, and easily maintainable smart solutions tailored to small, medium, and micro enterprises. Through technological and model innovation, we will cultivate a cohort of internationally competitive modern logistics enterprises and enhance their capabilities in providing integrated supply-chain services.

3. Solid Foundations—Strengthen Logistics Standards and Quality Control. Develop and promote logistics standards, enhance quality control and service evaluation, and reinforce the normative guidance provided by national and international standards in the logistics sector. Facilitate alignment between domestic and international logistics standards, advance the optimization and upgrading of foundational, general‑purpose, and industry‑wide logistics technical standards, establish a system for evaluating the implementation of logistics standards, cultivate leading standard‑setters in the logistics field, and leverage their role as models to drive broader adoption. Uphold a quality‑first value orientation, continuously elevate the quality, sophistication, and brand influence of products and services, and propel China’s industrial and value chains toward the mid‑to‑high end, enabling deeper and wider integration into the global supply system.

4. Strong Support—Strengthening Talent Development and Recruitment. Logistics professionals are the core resource of the logistics industry. Cultivating logistics talent with a spirit of innovation and practical expertise is essential for enhancing the sector’s competitiveness. Further reform the logistics talent‑training model, establish an internationalized education platform for logistics professionals, and expand their access to global markets. At the same time, reinforce the logistics talent‑development system to elevate the professional competence and overall capabilities of those working in the field.

5. Deepened Cooperation—Strengthening international cooperation and exchanges. Guided by the Belt and Road Initiative, we will advance high-standard opening-up, continuously deepen cooperation and exchanges among member countries, explore the seamless alignment of multimodal transport standards and regulations, accelerate the integration of a smooth, secure, and efficient international trade logistics information platform, and establish a robust legal and regulatory framework for the orderly interconnection of logistics network nodes, thereby fully building an open hub with global appeal. We will also enhance collaboration and dialogue with international logistics organizations and industry associations, participate in the development of global supply chains, and expand the logistics sector’s presence in international markets and its network of partners.

6. Information Connectivity—Strengthen the open sharing of logistics data. Promote the open sharing of logistics-related data across road, rail, air, waterway, postal services, as well as public security, industry and commerce, customs, and quality inspection sectors, thereby facilitating logistics operations for enterprises and organizations in the industry. Deeply advance demonstration projects for big‑data applications in logistics to provide foundational support for enhancing the efficiency of logistics resource allocation. Widely promote the use of electronic documents such as electronic waybills, electronic warehouse receipts, and electronic shipping labels, and work toward achieving seamless information interconnection and compatibility among all modes of transport.

7. Brightening the Foundation—Developing Green Logistics. Environmental protection has become one of the global priorities, and the state must strengthen environmental oversight of the logistics sector, encourage enterprises to adopt clean energy and low‑carbon transportation, and promote energy‑saving and emission‑reducing logistics practices. At the same time, efforts should be intensified to recycle and reuse waste, optimize packaging design, and minimize environmental pollution. By advancing green logistics, we can reduce environmental impacts and enhance the nation’s capacity for sustainable development.

III. Major Challenges That Must Be Overcome to Enhance the Nation’s Core Competitiveness in Logistics

1. Infrastructure Connectivity. Enhancing the connectivity of logistics infrastructure is of paramount importance. It is necessary to address bottlenecks where transport networks exist but remain unconnected, and to vigorously advance integrated connectivity across land, sea, air, and digital networks, thereby injecting new momentum into global interconnectivity and shared development.

2. Information Interoperability. Seamless information integration is a top priority for enterprise development. It is essential to address key bottlenecks such as difficulties in resource sharing, interoperability, and business collaboration, adopting the principle that sharing is the norm and non‑sharing is the exception, thereby enhancing the industry’s capacity to deliver robust information services.

3. Environmental Innovation. To foster a conducive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, it is essential to address issues such as financial support, intellectual property protection, and market access, thereby stimulating the logistics sector’s innovative vitality and competitiveness.

4. Pragmatic cooperation. Actively engage in international logistics cooperation and division of labor, enhancing the country’s position and competitiveness within the global supply chain. Uphold principles of equality, openness, and inclusiveness; impose no barriers to cooperation or additional conditions; maximize consensus-building; coordinate collaborative actions; pursue flexible, practical cooperation; and commit to shared development and mutually beneficial outcomes.

5. Unified rules. Strengthen the uniformity of fundamental market institutions and regulations; promote high-standard connectivity of market infrastructure; establish a unified market for factors of production and resources; advance a high-level, unified market for goods and services; and ensure fair and unified market regulation. Formulate and implement laws, regulations, and policies that foster the development of the logistics sector, address institutional bottlenecks and shortcomings in its growth, and create a favorable environment for its continued expansion.

Overcoming these critical challenges is key to enhancing the nation’s core competitiveness in logistics. It requires the concerted efforts of government, enterprises, academia, and all sectors of society—strengthening cooperation and coordination—and leveraging innovative thinking and pragmatic measures to drive the comprehensive development of the logistics industry.