China's top economic planner has decided to set up several pilot cities to develop modern logistics.

Against the backdrop of "Internet Plus" national plan, urban cities should play a key role in developing modern logistics, which could help support industrial upgrading, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which did not elaborate on details.

The "Internet Plus" action plan was unveiled by the State Council in July to mold information technology and traditional sectors into a cohesive, efficient force, and help cultivate new engines for economic growth and upgrade economic structure

The plan identified areas that can benefit from Internet Plus, including logistics, services and e-commerce.

By the end of June 2015, China had 668 million Internet users, 48.8 percent of the population. Total e-commerce transaction volume in 2014 surged 59.4 percent to 16.39 trillion yuan (2.57 trillion U.S. dollars), nearing its goal of 18 trillion yuan by 2015.

Pilot cities could help increase the serving abilities of modern logistics industry, enhance resources optimization, and break barriers for the development of logistics, said an official with the NDRC.

Sound development of the logistics industry is meaningful to a good investment and consumption environment, as well as a steady and sustainable economic growth, the official said.

China aims to build a modern logistics service system by 2020, with annual growth of value added output of around 8 percent, accounting for around 7.5 percent of the country's GDP, according to a statement by the NDRC earlier in August.

Data from China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing showed goods worth 104.7 trillion yuan (16.5 trillion U.S. dollars) were transported in the first half of the year.

Between January and June, the gross revenue of the logistics industry hit 3.6 trillion yuan, up 5.4 percent over the same period last year.

(Xinhua)