The Belt and Road Roundtable Meeting for International Transport Cooperation, with the theme as “Initiating the Establishment of International (The Belt & Road) Transport Alliance (ITA)”, was convened on 4 June, 2017 in Beijing, China. More than 60 delegates from over 20 countries and regions along the Belt and Road, as well as international and regional organizations, attended this Meeting, including Weng Mengyong, President of China Highway & Transportation Society; Zhang Xiaojie, Deputy Director General of Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Transport, P.R. China; André BROTO, Director for Strategy, President Adviser, VINCI Autoroutes, France; Michael WALTON, Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial Chair in Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, USA; Susanna Zammataro, Executive Director of the International Road Federation (IRF); Ke Fang, Manager of Investment Bureau, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); Deng Renjie, Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Group; Robert Guild, Director, Transport and Communications Division, East Asia Department, Asia Development Bank (ADB); Klaus Schierhackl, International Vice President of International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA); Ir. Dr. Lim Char Ching, Director of Engineering,Public Works Department, Malaysia; and Zheng Dingning(Albert Cheng), President of Hong Kong Institution of Highways and Transportation.

During the Meeting, the delegates identified common problems existing in the transport field, and especially discussed the proposal for establishment of International (The Belt & Road) Transport Alliance (ITA) initiated by China Highway & Transportation Society. ITA will serve as a platform for developing and enhancing all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging cooperation in the transport field among countries along the Belt and Road, achieving integrated, fast and sustainable development of the transport systems connecting these countries.

After deep discussion and consultation, all the delegates reached consensus on establishment of ITA, and adopted by applause the “Proposal for Initiating the Establishment of International (The Belt & Road) Transport Alliance (ITA)”, which would be announced on the opening ceremony of “2017 World Transport Convention” on 5 June, 2017.

Host:Weng Mengyong, President of China Highway & Transport Society

ZhangXiaojie, Deputy Director General of Department of International Cooperation,Ministry of Transport, P.R. China, delivering the Opening Remarks.

LiuWenjie, Vice President & Secretary-General of CHTS, making introduction to the initiated ITA