The China Industrial Truck Association (CITA) has accepted an offer to join the Alliance of Industrial Truck Organisations (AITO), a forum that discusses matters of concern to forklift manufacturers.

At AITO's September meeting, presidents of the Federation of European Material Handling Association (FEM), Industrial Truck Association (ITA) and Japan Industrial Vehicle Association (JIVA) invited CITA to join the alliance.

ITA president James Malvaso says AITO wants to promote common interests among its members: "It's time the worldwide industry recognises the importance of China as a producer and consumer of our products."

Malvaso says AITO members work together through discussions and concerted actions regarding statistics, standards and regulations relevant to its members.

He adds that while the alliance welcomes CITA as a member, the Chinese association needs to develop a management committee composed solely of industrial truck manufacturers to work with the manufacturing members of ITA, FEM and JIVA.

"We have common concerns with standards, statistics and government regulations and we need a united front to maximise our efforts."

AITO rotates its meetings between Europe, Japan and the US. The next meeting is held in conjunction with the JIVA annual meeting on 16 May 2008. CITA has offered to host the 2009 meeting.

Established in 1998, AITO is composed of the management committees of the participating associations.