Opening Ceremony of the Conference: Li Yuwei

Li Yuwei,
Director, Economic Officer (UNESCAP)
Opening Ceremony of the Exhibition
Beijing, BICC, 26 September 2005

Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to offer my congratulations on the opening of the 3rd Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference at Beijing, China. I would like to thank the International Road Transport Union, the Ministry of Communications, China and the China Road Transport Association for the excellent arrangements made for this important Conference.

Massive strides in the growth of Asian international trade are paving the way for operationalizing the Euro-Asian land bridge. This land bridge supported by railways and with maritime connections will enable countries in the western part of Asia, particularly the landlocked countries to have improved access to markets and enjoy the benefits of globalization.

Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is an exciting period in the development of the Asia Pacific region and I am pleased to inform you that UNESCAP is working closely with member countries to achieve an integrated international intermodal transport network in the Asia and Pacific region which will make a significant contribution to advancing economic and social development.

26 countries, including the 13 countries along the Euro-Asian landbridge, signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network at the 60th session of the Commission held at Shanghai, China in April 2004. Already, 12 countries have either definitively signed or ratified the Agreement which entered into force on 4 July 2005.

The speed with which this Agreement entered into force in July 2005 is testimony to the importance placed by countries on the development of international land transport. UNESCAP is now taking a similar approach to the formulation of an Intergovernmental Agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network and launched the negotiation process in November 2004. An intergovernmental meeting will be held towards the end of this year to finalize the agreement for adoption by the 62nd session of the Commission in 2006. We envisage that a formal signing ceremony will take place during the Ministerial Conference on Transport to be held in
November 2006.

The Asian Highway Network and the Trans-Asian Railway are seen as the fundamental building blocks of the region's intermodal transport system.


In parallel with infrastructure related activities, UNESCAP is undertaking activities on capacity building for trade and transport facilitation in the landlocked and transit countries, including seven countries along the Euro-Asia landbridge. These activities aim to reduce cost and time for international transport by assisting countries in reducing nonphysical bottlenecks. Emphasis is being given to the establishment and strengthening of national coordination mechanisms amongst public and private sector stakeholders, to ensure a full understanding of the problems and constraints. Analysis of transport routes using the UNESCAP Time/Cost-Distance methodology will help countries prioritize actions. Within UNESCAP we are taking a comprehensive approach to addressing issues by bringing together the resources of Divisions responsible for trade and investment; transport and tourism; and information, communication and space technology. In this process, guidelines are also being formulated on legal frameworks for facilitation of cross-border transport.

UNESCAP is also working closely with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and ADB on the negotiation of an agreement on facilitation of international road transport among the six SCO Member States. Importantly, roads within these countries namely, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan form the backbone of principal Euro-Asian road transport linkages.

In parallel with these activities, UNESCAP and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) are jointly implementing a programme on Euro-Asian linkages and a Special Programme for the Economies in Central Asia. We are confident that these two programmes will significantly contribute to the evelopment of road transport between Asia and Europe.

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

This Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference in Beijing is a major step in promoting the formation and operationalization of road transport between Asia and Europe.

In closing, I wish you every success in this important conference and a pleasant stay in Beijing.

Thank you.

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