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Today, GE Transportation and China’s Ministry of Railways announced they signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly advance high-speed rail opportunities in the United States.

The collaboration will enable GE to more effectively compete for high-speed rail projects against global competitors, according to the company. In addition, the partnership would accelerate GE’s passenger-rail technologies and create up to 150 high-tech jobs in the U.S. in the near-term, with the potential to create up to 3,500 U.S. jobs.

Under terms of the framework agreement, at least 80 percent of the content of any potential high-speed locomotives or signaling equipment would be sourced from U.S. suppliers and all final assembly would be performed in the U.S.

“China is a vital partner to GE Transportation’s future growth, and we find that China’s Ministry of Railways and GE share a common goal — driving high-speed rail technology development more quickly and broadly,” said GE Transportation President and Chief Executive Officer Lorenzo Simonelli in a prepared statement.

During the next three years, China will invest about $300 billion in its rail infrastructure, expanding its network by more than 12,500 miles, including 8,000 miles of track designed for high-speed trains capable of travelng up to 220 mph.  

GE currently is working with China’s largest diesel locomotive manufacturing company, CSR Qishuyan Locomotive Co. Ltd., to provide the Ministry of Railways with fuel-efficient, low-emission, diesel-electric heavy-haul locomotives. More than 100 of the locomotives already have been placed in revenue service by the railway.