China has decided to prolong its highway toll exemptions for trucks carrying food to the end of this year extending the deadline from March 31, according to the State Council.

The move came amid the government's efforts to step up its support for the country's agriculture sector and further reduce the transportation cost for fresh agriculture products, according to an official with the Ministry of Transport.

China prolonged its "green channel" service, which allows vehicles carrying agricultural products toll-free of seven major arteries, from the Spring Festival (February 7) to March 31 as a snow-disaster relief measure.

The highways include the north-south Yinchuan-Kunming, Hohhot-Nanning, Beijing-Haikou, Harbin-Haikou and Shanghai-Haikou routes, and the east-west Lianyungang-Urumqi and Shanghai-Lhasa routes.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2008)