Center to focus on transport

The Global Innovation and Knowledge Center for Sustainable Transport will carry out research in strategy and policy to support the development of sustainable transport, the Ministry of Transport said on Thursday.

The establishment of the center, which will be set up under the ministry, was announced by President Xi Jinping as he delivered a speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference this month.

The president said the center will contribute to global transportation development.

It will provide policy service and technology support to promote international collaboration in transportation. It will also facilitate communication, think tank consulting and international training, and it will hold forums and exhibitions to promote global transportation cooperation, said Liu Pengfei, spokesman for the ministry, at an online news conference.

The establishment of the center is meant to deepen international cooperation, promote mutual benefits in the transportation sector, boost global sustainable transportation development and accelerate the building of a strong transportation power, Liu said.

The center will also develop a think tank that will focus on sustainable transportation development and will gather talent to create a database of international cooperation efforts, Liu added.

Shi Baolin, head of the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, said the establishment of the center demonstrates that China is paying a great deal of attention to sustainable transportation.

"The center will serve as an important platform for international communication and cooperation. It will also have some unique duties," he said, adding that it will be a milestone in China's promotion of sustainable development in the transportation sector.

"As an innovative platform, it will serve in at least two ways: one, in leading technological innovation, and two, in promoting relevant knowledge," Shi said.

He also said China will focus on promoting sustainable development in the transportation sector in three ways.

First, it will adjust transportation structure, including railway and waterway transportation. Second, high-technology will be promoted to boost sustainable development. And third, it will improve policies and mechanisms to meet these goals, he added.

Data from the United Nations showed that transportation is one of the single largest contributors to air pollution and carbon emissions globally, while also accounting for about 64 percent of total oil consumption and 27 percent of all energy use.

A joint report from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and Renmin University of China showed that carbon emissions produced by the transportation sector in China accounted for about 10 percent of all carbon emissions, and more than 80 percent of that figure came from road transportation.

Zhou Wei, former chief engineer from the Ministry of Transport, said the next step is to promote structure adjustments, reducing road transportation while boosting railway and waterway transportation.