Chinese officials learn to drive after chauffeur withdrawn

BEIJING: Many senior government officials in China have been forced to take driving lessons after their chauffeur-driven cars were taken away as part of the government's austerity-drive to cut wasteful spending.

Driving instructors in Changchun in northeastern Jilin province said the number of students at their schools had risen significantly this year and some were government officials getting behind the wheel for the first time, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.