China Encouraging Automakers To Be Actively Involved In Setting International Standards

SHANGHAI - September 17, 2007:

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said the government encourages Chinese auto enterprises to be actively involved in meeting and establishing international auto test standards.

"Though China's auto exports have been surging rapidly in recent years, the Chinese auto industry is still a labor-intensive and high energy-consuming industry and China-made automobiles are still perceived as low-quality products overseas," Wang Qinhua, director of the MOCs Department of Electromechanical Products said in automotive industry conference in Tianjin.

Most overseas markets require international certification as parts of pre-requisites for market access and this process has cost a huge amount of money for Chinese automakers, Wang told the conference. In fact, this has become a barrier for Chinese automakers to go to overseas markets, Wang added.

Wang said MOC will make policies helping Chinese auto makers better understand international trading and technical rules.

The Ministry of Commerce reportedly encourages Chinas automotive industry associations and competitive enterprises to get involved in international technical alliances or international technological standards forums, which will give them better chances in laying down impartial international standards.

The Ministry of Commerce will also support individual enterprises to conduct independent or cooperative studies on some common technologies and critical technologies. MOC also encourages Chinas domestic certification organizations to cooperate with their counterparts in other countries.

For more information about the burgeoning auto industry in China please visit http://www.gasgoo.com/Autobiz/list/7/China-News.html