The International Road Federation (IRF) and the China Highway & Transportation Society (CHTS) formalised a new chapter of cooperation with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 2025 International Smart Transport Symposium (2025 ISTS), which focuses on critical technologies driving smart cities and intelligent transportation, including artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and vehicle-road coordination. 

The IRF, a global not-for-profit organisation, is committed to enhancing road networks by promoting knowledge exchange, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. It contributes actively to transport research by generating knowledge, supporting innovation and promoting evidence-based decision-making in road and mobility development.  

Through collaborative studies, technical reports and international partnerships, the IRF advances understanding of emerging transport trends, safety systems, and sustainable infrastructure solutions. 

In parallel, the CHTS plays a leading role in advancing research and innovation across China’s transport sector. Through its network of experts, academic institutions and industry partners, CHTS conducts studies on road engineering, intelligent transport systems, and sustainable mobility solutions.  

It supports the dissemination of research outcomes through conferences, publications and technical exchanges, contributing to the development of policies and practices that enhance the safety, efficiency, and resilience of China’s transport infrastructure while promoting global knowledge sharing in road and highway research. 

The signing ceremony between the two organisations took place on the sidelines of the Symposium, which brought together leaders and innovators from government, industry and academia to explore the integration of smart cities and intelligent transport systems.  

Setting the foundation for deeper collaboration in advancing research, the agreement between the IRF and CHTS also laid our opportunities for knowledge exchange and capacity building in the global road and mobility sector, with a special focus on China.  

“China is an exciting ground for strategic collaboration to advance road infrastructure as an enabler of inclusive and sustainable growth. Through this partnership, we believe CHTS will play a vital role in translating the IRF’s global mandate into action in one of the world’s most dynamic economies. Together, we will strengthen the exchange of knowledge and bring regional voices into our global ecosystem of changemakers driving the future of smart and sustainable mobility.” – Dimitrios Mandalozis, President of IRF 

The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between the two parties across several key areas. It aims to advance joint research on transport challenges and opportunities, promote the exchange of knowledge through shared events and initiatives, and strengthen capacity building by developing training programmes and professional development activities. The partnership will also encourage the sharing of data and information to support innovation and sustainable progress in the transport sector. 

The partnership will generate insights and evidence-based solutions that address transport challenges and opportunities, particularly in areas where innovation can improve accessibility and safety. It will also reflect across international platforms, helping disseminate best practices and promote global dialogue on sustainable mobility.  

It will empower professionals with the skills needed to design and manage transport systems that are inclusive, safe, green and efficient and will help support better decision-making and innovation, enabling more efficient use of infrastructure and resources. 

“CHTS has high expectation and a positive attitude towards deepening cooperation with the IRF. Currently, technologies such as AI, autonomous driving, and large-scale models are profoundly reshaping the future landscape of the mobility and transportation. China’s vast application scenarios, continuously improving infrastructure, and booming market demand provide a unique stage for the innovation and practice of these technologies. Through this cooperation, we will be able to better gather the wisdom and experience from both domestic and international sources, and jointly address the challenges faced by the global road transport industry.”- Zhang Xigang, Vice President of CHTS.  

The IRF and CHTS reaffirm their shared role in helping shape China’s rapidly evolving road transport landscape towards smarter and more sustainable practices, a step toward bridging national and local expertise to aid developments in the mobility and transport sectors.  

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