China's school bus safety has been under wide discussion. As one of the latest efforts to achieve that, China has opened its first international school bus exhibition in Beijing. The First China International School Bus Exhibition opened in Beijing on Wednesday. The 4-day exhibition is sponsored by the National Bureau for School Children Traffic Safety Education. Zhang Ming, director of National Bureau for School Children Traffic Safety Education, said, "Through the school bus exhibition, we hope to find a way to solve the problem of student transport safety in order to lighten the burden for families and reassure the public." More than 20 manufacturers from China and the U.S. brought their school buses to the exhibition hall. Some of them are showing their vehicles in China for the first time. Visitors can get inside buses and experience themselves. Phil Horlock, CEO of Bluebird, said, "We are so proud that China got the first school bus show here in Beijing. It was a great turn-out, so we can show what the American bus is all about." The exhibition started with school bus development forum which attracted participants to discuss the future of the Chinese school bus industry. Yang Lihui, forum participant, said, "I think China has a huge school bus market and rural areas need it the most." There is a shortage of transport vehicles for children in rural areas. In some areas, students have to cram into commuter buses, which led to some deadly accidents in recent months. The school bus exhibition could be a step forward in improving those conditions. It is being held until February 18 at the National Convention Center. In China, the primary and middle school education system sees more than 200 million students. For many of them, the journey to school is less than joyful, paved with overcrowded buses and lurking accidents, especially in some rural areas. Establishing school bus system is a possible solution to the problem. After all, student transport safety is a top priority. (CNTV.cn February 16, 2012)