Nation promotes self-driving tech to build better transport

China has been taking proactive measures to push forward the research and application of self-driving technology, which will provide strong technological innovation support for building a comprehensive modern transport system, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Self-driving technology has played an important role in the next round of technological innovation and industrial transformation worldwide, and China has been promoting its development by "encouraging exploration, tolerating failure, ensuring safety and combating monopoly", said Liu Xiaoming, vice-minister of transport.

The ministry has worked closely with multiple departments to guide the road tests of intelligent connected vehicles in an orderly manner and established five research and development centers for self-driving technology, he said at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office.

The transport authorities have also stepped up research on the technical standards to adapt the construction of new roads to the development of driverless vehicles, he said, adding the ministry issued technical specifications for highway auxiliary facilities adapted to automated driving last month.

The ministry has designated six closed-off testing bases so far in a bid to improve the safety level of road testing and strengthen the research and development of roads adapted to automated driving technology, he added.

Liu also noted that the country will also kick off pilot programs of autonomous driving in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Xiongan New Area in Hebei province to promote the application of technologies such as 5G communication and the homegrown Beidou navigation satellite system as well.