China will announce the first group of the country's logistics hubs, with around 15 cities expected to be named on the list. The plan to build national logistics hubs, which was issued at the end of last year, may give some clues about the results.

According to the Economic Information Daily, chosen cities will coordinate with the development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the integration of the Yangtze River Delta, aiming to boost the overall regional economy.

The 2018 plan, which involves 127 cities, has laid out 212 logistics hubs – including land and border ports as well as airports -- in line with six category features, based on the economic and geographic situation of each area. Of the cities involved, Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing have integrated five logistical functions, while another 12, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, have four features.

An article published on the Paper estimated that altogether, 15 cities have more chance of selection in the first round of the country's logistics hub construction, owing to their strength and competitiveness.

As per the plan's requirements and standards, selected cities should have a solid economy and complete infrastructure, citing the majority of the 15 cities have a GDP that enters the top 20 nationwide. Traffic facilities are also a deciding factor for a place on the final list.

Meanwhile, national strategic demand will be taken into consideration as well when the decision is made, said the article.