Long-term commitment is required to address critical issues in the transport sector to support sustained economic growth, improve the living standards of the people and further increase the competitiveness of economies in the region. At the same time, political commitment and effective interventions are required to improve road safety and the energy efficiency of the transport sector. Since 2000, China's port container traffic has increased by 11.7 per cent per annum, growing from 41 million TEU in 2000 to 155 million in 2012.