Standards have been formulated in the transportation sector to promote sustainable transportation development, and especially contribute to the regional development in Southwest China, an official from the Ministry of Transport said on Friday.

The Ministry of Transport has focused on fostering sustainable transportation development that is safe, convenient, efficient, green, economical, inclusive and resilient, and that has strengthened the top-level design of standards, especially since 2021, said Xu Wenqiang, director of the ministry's the Science and Technology Department.

He made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing.

The ministry has formulated key standards in many important areas, including comprehensive transportation, smart logistics, safety, as well as green and low-carbon development, Xu said.

As of the end of last year, there were 908 effective national standards, 3,145 industry standards and 2,405 local standards in the transportation sector, he noted.

The standards in the transportation sector have been applied in development in Southwest China's Chongqing and Sichuan province. A comprehensive transportation standard system in Sichuan and Chongqing region, released by the Ministry of Transport, the State Administration for Market Regulation, as well as Sichuan and Chongqing government, aims to promote cooperation among local transportation authorities.

It represents an innovative practice in promoting the coordinated development of national, industry and local standards, Xu added.

For instance, the system aims to enhance the quality of the comprehensive transportation network by setting up standards.

"By accelerating the formulation of standards for the expansion and reconstruction of expressways in mountainous areas, it will support capacity enhancement and improve traffic flow," he said.

"We are also refining standards for the tourism waterway in mountainous regions to boost the development of transportation and tourism (in the area)," Xu said.