Abstract: In a method for forwarding data, when at least one logical port is created at a network element connected directly with a peer network element and the logical port is bound with at least two physical ports of the network element which are connected with the peer network element, determine an egress port for forwarding the data; if the egress port is a logical port, choose one physical port from the physical ports bound with the logical port, forward the data through the chosen physical port; if the egress port is a physical port, forward the data through the physical port serving as the egress port. A network element for forwarding data is also provided. Through the method and the network element, the reliability and communication bandwidth for forwarding data are improved.