China, Europe sign tentative road transport co-operation deal

CHINA's Communications Minister Li Shenglin and Jacques Barrot, vice president of the European Commission responsible for transport signed memorandum of understanding for road and river transportation.

Mr Li and Mr Barrot spoke highly of the positive effect on Sino-European shipping relations brought by the maritime agreement signed between the EC and China in 2002 and agreed to widen its scope to cover road and river transport.

According to the MoU, China and Europe will co-operate on cross-border road transport, sea-land intermodal transport, river transport, design and the maintenance of transport facilities as well as sharing of logistics information. The two sides also agreed to hold ministerial meetings on a regular basis and set up workshops.