Yang Chuantang answers questions from reporters on March 5. [Photo/CFP]

Transport minister can't buy car

"My family members want to buy a car but haven't won the license plate lottery for three years," said Yang Chuantang, Minister of Transport, disclosing his personal troubles in buying a car in Beijing, in an interview after the NPC opening session on Wednesday.

The capital city began conducting car license plate lotteries in 2011 to restrict vehicle purchases and curtail worsening traffic jams.

In the last round of the license-plate lottery last year, 2.3 million applicants competed for 130,000 licenses.