China will step up efforts to improve the quality and safety of elevators, according to a circular issued on Feb 9 by the General Office of the State Council.

In recent years, though elevator-related accidents and deaths have steadily declined in China, elevator failures and accidents still remain common, the circular stated.

The circular put forward a goal of establishing an elevator quality and safety system to ensure that indicators such as the number of accidents and deaths per 10,000 elevators reach the level of developed countries by 2020.

To attain the goal, a number of key tasks mentioned in the circular need to be accomplished, including improving the quality of elevators, enhancing hazard control and renovation, optimizing elevator use and maintenance, and adjusting inspection and detection methods, among others.

As supporting measures, local governments are asked to strengthen supervision and management by building an elevator quality and safety coordination mechanism and incorporating elevator safety into the accountability system. Efforts will also be made to improve regulations and standards as well as increase publicity and education to raise awareness about safety.