We will also use what we learn in our visioning sessions to help plan for the International Transportation Symposium the U.S. Department of Transportation will host in Washington, D.C. October 9 through 12. Decisions by the European Union and the United States during the past two weeks promise to dramatically enlarge that community in the near future. With the successful conclusion of bilateral negotiations between China and the EU on May 19th, it is now clearer than ever that China will join the World Trade Organization. Passage of PNTR by the United States Senate is expected. Yet there are good reasons to believe that these new agreements will encourage Chinese leaders to move in the direction of meeting the demands of the Chinese people for openness and accountability.
Globalization is on the march.
We face choices about protecting the environment of our nations and the world. At the top of the list of challenges we face, is the need to effectively integrate new technology and information systems with the transportation system. I would like to personally invite each one of you, as representatives of the United States' significant international partners, to join me for this important ministerial, which will provide a unique opportunity to explore and consider innovative possibilities for transportation in an integrated global economy. On the ground, on the rails, in the air and on the water, globalization is changing the nature of transportation everywhere. During the 21st century, transportation decisionmakers face crucial choices with far-reaching consequences for future economic growth and the quality of life in the communities where we live and across the globe.