Forum helps China, US bolster ties through transportation

China wants to further develop cooperation in automated vehicles and infrastructure and advanced integrated transportation with the United States to make sure joint projects are a success, a top official said on Thursday.

Yang Chuantang, Party secretary of the Ministry of Transport, said China-US cooperation in transportation has reached new heights through the sharing of green and sustainable technologies, while more exclusive exchanges have taken place between cities, companies and research institutes.

He made the remarks in a speech at the ninth China-US Transportation Forum in Beijing.

“We see very good momentum in transportation cooperation, but there are still challenges. We hope to strengthen discussion in this field with our American counterparts to achieve more fruitful results that better benefit our two peoples,” Yang said.

Established in 2008, the forum is an annual event that aims to facilitate partnerships and bilateral dialogues in areas of mutual interest.

This year’s forum mainly focused on automated vehicles and infrastructure development, and was attended by more than 180 representatives from governments, companies and academia.

Delegations from China’s Ministry of Transport and the US Department of Transportation engaged in panel discussions, sharing insights in safe automated vehicle testing, intelligent expressways, transport maintenance and financing.

Elaine L. Chao, the US transport secretary, echoed Yang’s words by making clear three priorities: maintaining and strengthening safety; rebuilding and refurbishing the US’ critical infrastructure; and preparing for the future and engaging advanced technologies.

“I hope this forum will strengthen the discussion between our two ministries and contribute to a long-term relationship that is constructive and results-oriented,” Chao said.