BEIJING -- China's total rural road length reached 4.64 million km by the end of 2024, according to Minister of Transport Liu Wei on Monday.

Liu presented the data at a press conference showcasing the country's achievements in transport development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

By the end of last year, more than 500,000 administrative villages across the country had access to paved roads, according to Liu.

Among all rural roads nationwide, 94.8 percent of them were classified as good or medium quality as of the end of 2024, the minister said.

The minister noted that rural road development has effectively facilitated the flow of people, goods and information between urban and rural areas. Additionally, it has made significant contributions to fostering a livable and business-friendly rural environment.

In addition to helping local industries thrive, rural roads have also generated new job opportunities such as road maintenance, which allow local residents to find jobs and increase their income while being close to home, Liu added.

Looking ahead, Liu said the transport ministry will launch a new round of rural road development, vowing to continuously improve the quality, safety and services of China's rural road network.