economy - Traffic jams "no threat for Olympics" - Beijing mayor



What is the first problem the newly elected Beijing mayor has to address in a meeting with the press: the traffic jams. The new political agenda of China might upset both human rights activists and car manufacturers, but that is how it is.
The mayor said on Saturday the traffic jams will not cause a problem during the 2008 Olympic Games. Why? He will ask the people to leave their cars at home, reports the official newswire Xinhua.
"The traffic problem is an integral part of the entire process of Beijing modernization," he said, blaming irrational city planning, the increasing number of private cars, malpractice and people's lack of awareness of the importance of obeying the traffic regulations for traffic jams.
Wang is already in place since April last year, as he had to replace his predecessor who tried to keep the SARS-epidemic under wraps.