Between November 1 and 6 more than half the government cars in Beijing will be banned from city streets to ensure traffic flows smoothly during the four-day China-Africa Cooperation Forum summit.

 

The opening ands closing times for places of work, schools and department stores would also be adjusted to avoid congestion, authorities explained yesterday on television.

 

Addressing the importance of road safety during the summit the traffic watchdog said African leaders would be staying in several hotels throughout in the city and may require to travel long distances for meetings.

 

The traffic plan stipulates that half of the vehicles used by state work units and Party institutions, military forces and their affiliates would be banned from the streets during the summit.

 

Also banned will be 80 percent of government vehicles from every suburb and county in Beijing Municipality and from the city offices of every other province and municipality.

 

For privately-owned and company cars drivers are advised to avoid major routes likely to be used by foreign guests during the summit. These routes include Chang'an Avenue, the east and west second ring roads and the airport expressway.

 

Taxis without passengers are strictly banned from entering Chang'an Avenue, the east and west Second Ring Roads, Sanlihe Street, the roads to the east and west of Tian'anmen Square and the road to the west of the Great Hall of the People.

 

All drivers are also encouraged to avoid the main airport expressway and instead to use the northern road that also links the airport to the city.

 

(China Daily October 26, 2006)