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Transport Ministers of 16 Euro-Asian Nations Vow to Cooperate on Road Transport

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 September 2005, 09:00 CDT

Transport ministers of 16 Euro-Asian nations vow to cooperate on road transport

BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen transport ministers from Asia and Europe vowed to cooperate on road transport here Tuesday.

The ministers issued a joint statement after a ministerial meeting held in Beijing.

The ministers or the their representatives were from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Czech, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Slovak, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Extensive and intensive discussions were conducted on the theme of Enhancing the Development and Cooperation of the Euro-Asian Road Transport.

They agreed that economic and trade development in Asia and Europe would be greatly enhanced by strengthening mutual cooperation in road infrastructure.

The statement said the ministers noted with satisfaction the tangible progress made in recent years in road infrastructure development on the Euro-Asian Continent and the resolution made by the countries to promote road transport in this region have provided a sound foundation for the further expansion of transport cooperation between Europe and Asia.

The ministers also bore in mind that the non-physical barriers still remain as the major obstacles in the further development of road transport, and minded of the importance of road safety in ensuring Euro-Asian economic development and social well-being.

The ministers have committed themselves to:

-- strengthening the friendly and mutually-beneficial international cooperation in road infrastructure and transport to promote the economic prosperity and social progress in Asia and Europe;

-- stepping up the efforts in developing road infrastructure to establish the Euro-Asian transport corridor so as to pave the way for the growth of road transport;

-- encouraging the application by the countries of the United Nations Conventions pertaining to the facilitation of international road transport and creating favorable cross-border and transit transport conditions through further removal of the non-physical barriers caused by artificial and bureaucratic formalities with a view to facilitating the road transport between Asia and Europe;

-- establishing an open and sustainable integrated transport system so as to provide safe, efficient, reliable and environmental- friendly freight and passenger transport services by road;

-- taking measures to effectively eliminate the potential dangers to the international road transport and to improve the emergency response capability of road transport in the event of natural disaster, thus ensuring the safety of human life and vehicles;

-- exploring the possibility of setting up a mechanism for exchanges and communication on a regular basis of the latest information and advanced technology relating to road transport development among the countries;

-- calling upon relevant international organizations and financial institutions to provide assistance for the development of the Euro-Asian road transport corridor;

-- requesting the International Road Union to continue playing its active role in promoting international road transport.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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