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High level ITF delegation signs enhanced MoU in China 

news 29 Nov 2019

An ITF delegation, led by the general secretary Stephen Cotton, has visited China this week to enhance cooperation and understanding with the countrys labour movement. 

The visiting group included Asia Pacific members of the ITFs executive board and was arranged to fulfil the mandate set by the executive board to further the strategic relationship with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU). 

Part of the mission saw an enhanced memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the ITF and the ACFTU. The MoU:

  • defines the cooperation between the two organisations
  • sets out the terms of engagement for the coming years
  • identifies sectors of possible future cooperation

Stephen Cotton commented on the mission: The ITF is a global organisation that seeks to engage with the big players in the lives of transport workers; that is what this visit is all about. 

The renewed and improved MoU recognises that Chinese investment in transport infrastructure is unprecedented, its affecting transport workers around the world. Increasingly, members of ITF-affiliated unions are encountering and interacting with Chinese employers in every region of the world. 

The ITFs role is to be there at the table where these projects are planned, having the conversations on behalf of our workers. We will be working together on issues such as sustainable transport, shipping, high-speed rail, aviation, one belt one road transport initiatives. I look forward to this enhanced MoU delivering quantitative outcomes giving a voice to transport workers engaged in these areas. 

Toshihiko Sumino, ITF vice president for Asia Pacific, commented: "The relationship with China is critical for the region, considering the level of investment undertaken by Chinese companies and their commercial partners. The signing of an enhanced memorandum of understanding provides us with an opportunity to better engage with the ACFTU and understand the impacts on transport workers both in Asia Pacific and globally."

Both sides have agreed to facilitate cooperation through further high-level visits, working visits, workshops, training seminars, academic exchanges and other channels.

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