Choose your language

IRU and China map the next decade of cooperation to advance road transport
People's Republic of China | Beijing

IRU and China map the next decade of cooperation to advance road transport

25 Sep 2026 · Prosperity

Connectivity, innovation and partnerships were on the agenda this week for IRU Secretary General Habib Turki. His series of high-level events and bilateral meetings with Chinese authorities, transport companies and IRU members has set the course for the next decade of international road transport cooperation.

Ten years after the opening of IRU’s office in Beijing, Habib Turki’s visit to China has built on a decade of progress and opened new avenues for collaboration.

Advancing international connectivity

IRU’s longstanding relationship with China’s Ministry of Transport has been central to the development of the country’s international road transport sector.

Habib Turki and Vice Minister of Transport Li Yang considered ways to enhance China–Europe connectivity, with particular attention to the Trans-Caspian Corridor and opportunities to expand TIR operations.

IRU will leverage its international network to support the development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor and contribute to the Ministry’s Transport Services Guide, which provides practical information for operators exploring international transport opportunities.

The two sides also weighed joint initiatives covering professional training, international best practices and the promotion of China’s new-energy heavy-duty trucks and transport innovations in international markets.

Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t

Cooperation with China’s customs authorities is another cornerstone of IRU’s work to facilitate international road transport.

In talks with Wang Jun, the Vice Minister of China’s General Administration of Customs, attention shifted to the next phase of border and customs facilitation.

Priorities include accelerating the implementation of eTIR, the digital version of the TIR system, and working together to support the expansion of TIR in Southeast Asia.

Habib Turki and Wang Jun also discussed broadening cooperation beyond TIR into wider areas of customs and international road transport, including expanding intermodal transport and removing operational barriers along Eurasian transport corridors.

Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t

Connecting innovation with transport needs

A meeting with Gong Jinfeng, General Manager of China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), focused on how automotive innovation can be more closely aligned with the practical needs of transport operators.

IRU and CATARC will work on joint plans to strengthen cooperation on emerging technologies, international standards and sustainable mobility.

Potential initiatives include workshops to showcase China’s autonomous driving technologies to international transport stakeholders, exchange expertise on international road transport conventions and identify new commercial opportunities.

CATARC will also share information on China’s new-energy vehicle and driving assistance standards through IRU’s global network.

The partnership will extend beyond China to activities in Europe and Southeast Asia, including through CATARC’s offices in Brussels and Bangkok.

CATARC’s China Automobile Standards Internationalization Center (CASIC) is IRU’s newest member.

Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t

Building on industry partnerships

With Wang Limei, President of IRU member the China Road Transport Association, the focus was on increasing cooperation in new areas, including passenger transport and greening.

The industry dimension of IRU’s visit continued in meetings with Zhang Jingyu, the Chairman of IRU member HPF, Tang Kelvin, Head of Ground & Rail in Greater China at IRU member CEVA Logistics, and Li Ming, Executive Director and General Manager of IRU member SPSI.

HPF’s rapid expansion to nearly 200 TIR trucks illustrates the growing opportunities for Chinese operators, particularly along the Trans-Caspian Corridor.

Meanwhile, CEVA Logistics’ TIR initiatives and pioneering use of electric trucks demonstrate how transport facilitation and decarbonisation can progress in parallel. CEVA recently reached a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainable transport with the successful completion of a 5,000km electric vehicle trial across China.

SPSI is also leveraging the TIR system to grow and facilitate its international road transport activities.

Together, these partnerships reinforce IRU’s long-term commitment to connecting Chinese operators with international markets, institutions and expertise – while supporting safer, greener and more efficient road transport worldwide.

Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t
Member photos here High-level events Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China. He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference. In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking at t

High-level events

Habib Turki was invited to address two important events while in China.

He joined more than 200 representatives from governments, international organisations and leading transport companies at the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Logistics Cooperation Conference.

In his keynote speech, Habib Turki stressed that harmonised processes and closer public-private cooperation can unlock even more trade between China and Central and Eastern Europe.

Speaking at the Global Sustainable Transport Forum, he outlined how buses and trucks, trade facilitation measures, and technology-neutral decarbonisation help make transport universally accessible.

The forum is the Chinese Ministry of Transport’s flagship annual international event, bringing together transport ministers, senior officials, international organisations, industry executives and experts from across the globe.

Browse more news

Advocacy
Coronavirus
Decarbonisation
Digitalisation
Goods transport
Governance
Key figures
Knowledge
Networking
None
Passenger transport
Profession
Road safety
Services
Social affairs
Sustainability
Technical assistance
Trade facilitation and transit
Training/Certification
Women in transport