Deputy Director-General Zhang Zhihong of the Hi-tech Development and Industrialization Department of China's Ministry of Science and Technology is reviewing plans for expanded work with Canadian firms.

Zhang reportedly recently received a delegation from the Canadian Embassy in China, including Counselor Pierre Pyun, Senior S&T Policy Consultant Allen Chong and Commercial Officer Jin Yi. Pyun provided a brief of the development of intelligent transport systems in Canada and expressed wishes to enhance ITS cooperation with China through joint R&D under existing frameworks.

Pyun also pointed out that Canadian companies were small compared to the huge ITS market and asked for MOST's suggestion on promoting R&D collaboration between the two nations.

Zhang reportedly reviewed the preparations for the 14th World Congress on ITS. He said that the problems of traffic jams and lack of transport dynamics in China’s large cities could be solved by improved technology, management and infrastructure.

There is no word yet on how the two sides plan to push forward for future collaborations.