BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang said Wednesday that the nation's transport sector must always put safety a priority in order to prevent major traffic accidents from happening next year.

"All related units must be sure that safety measures are in place and safety checks are enhanced to clear hazards," Zhang said while inspecting the Ministry of Transport.

Zhang's words came after a string of school bus accidents have caused great public concern and frustration over traffic safety.

The government is soliciting public opinion on the draft of safety standards for school buses.

Also on Wednesday, the State Council, the cabinet, announced the final report on investigations into a high-speed train crash in July near the city of Wenzhou.

The accident, killing 40 people, was caused by a series of flaws in the train operation control system, and aroused sharp criticism over the perceived inadequate emergency response of railway authorities, the report said.