The State Council, in a circular issued on Oct 13, approved a plan to establish an inter-ministerial joint conference system for road freight.

The system, as instructed in the circular, should implement decisions and arrangements from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, strengthen coordination among departments, and help resolve prominent issues in the industry.

While safeguarding the legal rights and interests of truck drivers, the system should maintain a fair and orderly environment for market competition, and promote stable and high-quality development of road transportation, the circular said.

To that end, the system should study and formulate policies conducive to fair market competition and high-quality development, improve infrastructure, promote advanced vehicle and equipment technology and transportation modes, and advance the intensive growth of road transportation.

In addition, it should also remove unreasonable penalties, improve regular joint law enforcement, clear channels for complaints to solve common and frequent problems of truck drivers, enhance market monitoring and analysis, promote information sharing and reasonable matching of transportation resources and freight, and improve industrial management and emergency response.

Led by the Ministry of Transport, the joint conference system contains 16 departments, including the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Finance.

The conference's office is set in the Ministry of Transport, and meetings will be held in plenary and special sessions.

Important items should be reported to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the circular said.