Abstract: TO ADDRESS THE CORE CONTRADICTION OF CHINA'S HIGH DEPENDENCE ON NATURAL GAS IMPORTS AND ITS SEVERE SHORTAGE OF GAS STORAGE AND PEAK-SHAVING CAPACITY, THIS PAPER DRAWS LESSONS FROM THE MATURE PRACTICES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S NATURAL GAS STORAGE SYSTEM, AIMING TO EXPLORE A CHINESE PATHWAY THAT INTEGRATES BOTH SECURITY AND MARKET EFFICIENCY. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE EU HAS ACHIEVED AN EFFECTIVE BALANCE BETWEEN ENSURING SUPPLY SECURITY AND STIMULATING MARKET VITALITY THROUGH A DUAL-TRACK MODEL COMBINING "MANDATORY STORAGE OBLIGATIONS" AND "MARKET-ORIENTED OPERATION AND REGULATION." BASED ON THIS, THIS PAPER PROPOSES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MODERN GAS STORAGE SYSTEM WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS, CHARACTERIZED BY "POLICY ENSURING THE BASELINE AND MARKET ENHANCING EFFICIENCY." THE CORE PATHWAY INVOLVES: FIRST, ESTABLISHING A MANDATORY RESPONSIBILITY FRAMEWORK FOR GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE RESERVES THROUGH TOP-LEVEL LEGISLATION; SECOND, DEEPENING PRICE REFORMS AND UTILIZING FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS PEAK-VALLEY PRICE DIFFERENTIALS AND CAPACITY TRADING TO FOSTER AN ACTIVE GAS STORAGE SERVICES MARKET; AND FINALLY, ADVANCING THE TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS IN SALT CAVERN AND AQUIFER STORAGE FACILITIES ALONGSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL INTELLIGENT DISPATCH PLATFORM. ULTIMATELY, THIS WILL ESTABLISH A NEW MARKET LANDSCAPE FOR GAS STORAGE THAT IS RELIABLE IN SUPPLY, COMMERCIALLY SUSTAINABLE, AND DIVERSIFIED IN PARTICIPANTS, THEREBY FUNDAMENTALLY STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL ENERGY SECURITY BARRIER.