BEIJING (AP) — China's government promised Thursday to overhaul the country's taxi industry following strikes by drivers in at least seven major cities over complaints about low pay, high charges imposed by taxi companies and competition from ride-hailing apps. The Ministry of Transport said it will take unspecified steps to improve pricing and "rights protection" mechanisms and to integrate ride-hailing apps and other new technologies into the industry. In a sign of shifting official attitudes, the government's China News Service on Thursday cited experts who said taxi companies hurt drivers by charging up to 9,000 yuan ($1,450) per month for use of a cab. "While cab drivers are undoubtedly unhappy about the use of taxi apps, their fundamental grievance is and always has been with the cab companies and the contract system," said Geoffrey Crothall of China Labour Bulletin, a Hong Kong-based research group, in a report this week.