East China's booming Jiangsu Province on Wednesday imposed a traffic restriction on state-financed vehicles, a provincial government spokesman said.

Vehicles operated by government agencies, social organizations financed by government budgets and state-owned enterprises would be included in the ban, spokesman Xiao Quan said.

Cars with number plates ending with 1 or 6 will be banned on Monday, while those ending with 2 or 7 will be stationary on Tuesday. Those with 3 or 8 will be banned on Wednesday, while Thursday affects those with 4 and 9 and Friday 5 and 0. The ban is only on weekdays.

Jiangsu lacked resources, which was key to the sustainable development of the province, Xiao said.

The government also encouraged the public to buy energy-saving lamps and cars, and to avoid using disposable chopsticks and paper cups.

Similar vehicle restrictions in Beijing will take effect on a trial basis on October 11 for six months through April 10. Shanghai and the eastern Shandong Province implemented a rule on state-owned vehicles in August.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2008)