U.S. - CHINA TRANSPORTATION FORUM

The Department of Transportation (DOT) along with China's Ministry of Transport (MOT) recently established the U.S. China Transportation Forum (TF). The mission of the Forum is to facilitate a cross-section of transportation related dialogues affecting both the U.S. and China. The goal is to identify and address concerns affecting both nations' transport systems. 

The Transportation Forum was launched during the 4th Strategic Economic Dialogue (a series of cabinet-level summits established by President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao in August 2006).

Specific areas of discussion under the Transportation Forum include: infrastructure strategies and innovative finance; urban congestion; technology in transportation; supply chain logistics, and disaster relief. 

The Transportation Forum's first project was a joint study/survey on “Trade Flows and Infrastructure Development” between the U.S. and China, with a 10-year outlook

The first meeting of the Transportation Forum occurred on December, 2008 in Beijing, China, with DOT and MOT leaders defining goals and providing instructions for next steps. The forum involved both the public and private sector. 

The 2nd Forum is scheduled to occur in the Fall of 2009 in Washington D.C.

The Office of International Transportation and Trade serves as the Department's coordinating arm.  It collects and interprets modal input involving China and more specifically how those activities relate to the Transportation Forum's efforts.

For more information, please contact Nicole Porter at nicole.porter@dot.gov or Zahid Khawaja at zahid.khawaja@dot.gov.