On June 3, 2016 at the 8th U.S.-China Transportation Forum in Los Angeles, California, the Race to Zero Emissions was officially announced by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and China Minister of Transport Yang Chuantang. In addition to the launching of the R2ZE, Foxx and Yang signed a Memorandum of Cooperation pledging the two countries to work together on key issues of mutual interest in transportation, including safety, innovation and technology, energy efficiency, urban congestion, and public private partnerships.
The R2ZE announcement was part of the two-day annual meeting focused on addressing challenges in the transportation sector. This year’s Forum included Working Group meetings on Safety and Disaster Assistance Coordination, New Technologies in Rail, Ports and Inland Waterways, Hazardous Materials Safety, and Urban Congestion. Participants also explored the role of public private partnerships in financing transportation infrastructure and evolutions in transportation planning and operations in the U.S. and China.
Created in 2008 as part of a bilateral partnership to improve transport infrastructure and intermodal connectivity, the U.S.-China Transportation Forum has since been held in Washington D.C., Shenzhen, St. Louis, Hangzhou, Chicago, and Suzhou. The Forum is open to members of the private sector and non-governmental organizations in addition to governmental delegates from the U.S. and China.
After receiving endorsement from the U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group and Secretary of State John Kerry, the two countries reviewed race guidelines and criteria for several months leading up to the official launch of the race at the Forum. “This is a win for both of our nations, and an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to deepen technical cooperation and our ties together in support of green-energy transportation objectives,” said Secretary Foxx.
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