The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently hosted a pivotal roundtable discussion on international cooperation within the automotive industry. Held during the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicle Conference, the event convened nearly 50 representatives from government bodies, embassies, international organizations, and industry associations across 12 countries and regions. The meeting underscored the transformative impact of intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) on vehicle design, energy consumption, and transportation paradigms.
Driving Global Cooperation in the ICV Era
Presided over by MIIT Party Group Member and Vice Minister Xin Guobin, the roundtable brought together delegates from countries including Malaysia, Egypt, South Korea, Australia, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Vice Minister Xin highlighted the profound changes ICVs are ushering in and noted that major automotive nations are actively accelerating strategic planning, R&D, and regulatory frameworks to foster industry growth.
“We are willing to work with all parties to strengthen dialogue and communication, deepen policy coordination, and enhance practical cooperation,” stated Vice Minister Xin. “Together with global industry peers, we aim to build an inclusive and shared industrial ecosystem.”
Key Discussions and Shared Vision
The discussion delved into critical areas such as policy and regulatory alignment for global ICVs, building robust and seamless international supply chains, advancing international cooperation in autonomous driving, promoting data security and green development, facilitating trade and investment, and supporting the globalization of enterprises. Representatives shared valuable insights into industry governance practices and explored solutions to common challenges.
Notable attendees included:
- Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia
- Dr. Mohamed Sami, Deputy Minister of Industry for Strategic Affairs of Egypt
- Dimitri Mariyasin, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
- Oh Won-wan, Minister-Counselor at the South Korean Embassy in China
- Matthias Krupa, President-Elect of the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA)
- François Roudier, Secretary-General of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA)
- Hildegard Müller, Chairwoman of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
- Sigrid de Vries, Secretary-General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA)
- Sunon Sangsnit, President of the Thailand Automotive Institute
- Fu Bingfeng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM)
A Unified Path Forward
A consensus emerged among all parties that the highly globalized nature of the automotive industry, particularly with the cross-border and cross-domain development of ICVs, necessitates seamless international dialogue, harmonized standards, and unimpeded trade. The participants strongly agreed that only through open cooperation and collaborative construction can the global intelligent connected vehicle industry achieve sustainable and stable progress.
The roundtable served as a crucial platform for fostering international understanding and commitment to collaborative growth in the rapidly evolving world of connected and autonomous mobility.
