Jinan, the capital of east China's Shandong Province, has agreed to participate in a UN global program to establish effective urban traffic systems, sources with city government said on Monday.

Jinan is the first city in China to participate in the UN Global Compact Cities Pilot Program, the sources said.

China's roads are among the world's deadliest, with 107,000 traffic fatalities in 2004, according to government statistics.

According to Jinan's commitment to the UN program, the city has to upgrade its roads in the next three years to reach 23 safety standards set by the program designers.

And the local government is expected to submit an annual report about the progress made in traffic safety to the UN.

Bao Qiang, mayor of Jinan, said the city's roads are among the best in the country, as accidents and fatality rates have been dropping for three consecutive years despite a 20 percent increase in car registrations each year.

David Teller, international coordinator of the program, said he was delighted by Jinan's participation and encouraged other Chinese cities to tackle traffic problems by learning from Jinan's improved traffic management system.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2005)