All taxi drivers in this tourist city of Hainan Island returned to work today, ending a five-day strike after getting "solemn promises" from the government.

Jiang Zelin, the city's party chief, met with more than 1,000 taxi drivers at about 3:00 pm, vowing "to take concrete measures in two days to protect licensed drivers' interest."

Jiang also apologized on behalf of the local authority for not being able to implement a taxi management policy issued at the beginning of the year on cutting rental fees and other problems.

Drivers at the scene gave strong applause to the remarks and soon resumed services.

Cabbies refused to take customers and many rallied in front of the municipal government building since Monday, demanding relief from high rental fees and competition from unlicensed cabs.