An international standard drafted by China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Industry Group Corp (CSR) on overhead railway contact lines was permitted by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Beijing Daily reported on Thursday.

It is the first time China made an international standard in the railway industry. The overhead contact line is used to supply power for the train's electric traction.

This standard, which was proposed by CSR Zhuzhou Electric Co Ltd in 2009, was officially launched on June 29, 2011, with 100 percent agreement of all IEC's member countries.

The report said it is a big step for China's railway industry because the international standards in this field were in the past always made by developed countries.