THE Guangzhou Municipal Government will tackle its traffic problem by building an effective transport network instead of imposing restrictions on private car ownership, Mayor Zhang Guangning said Monday.

About 15,000 new car owners apply for license plates each month in Guangzhou, and the figure is about to grow, according to Zhang. The number of cars sold in Guangdong accounts for about 30 percent of the nation's total.

Zhang said the government would not limit car ownership but instead would introduce more favorable policies to encourage car purchases.

Meanwhile, the traffic problem is worsening because of increasing number of automobiles. The government would put more effort into building roads and subways and strengthen transportation management, said the mayor.

The restriction on motor cycles would remain and car exhaust emission controls would be intensified, the mayor said.

 
Editor: Wings