September 26, 2005

Only road transport can bring Asia and Europe together, but it needs the right conditions

Beijing - The 3rd IRU Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference will highlight road transport's potential to unite the economies of Asia and Europe. Organised jointly by the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the Ministry of Communications (MOC) of the People's Republic of China and, as executive partner and IRU member organisation, the China Road Transport Association (CRTA), the conference takes place in the Beijing International Conference Centre, 26-27 September 2005 and features joint sessions with a European and Asian Transport Ministers' conference hosted at the same time by the MOC.
Feng Zhenglin, Vice Minister of Communications, People's Republic of China, said: "The Chinese Government understands road transport's vital role in economic development and is therefore pleased to help host to this regional conference, which follows previous ones in Irkutsk, Russian Federation, and Tehran, Iran."

Paul Laeremans, President, IRU, said: "This latest IRU Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference will highlight road transport's ability to bring Asia and Europe together in one integrated market and examine the measures needed to overcome the barriers to this goal, which is none other than the revitalisation of the ancient Silk Road that contributed so much to the economic development of both regions. If our ancestors were able to make it work, surely we can do so again?"

The conference will feature the IRU's uniquely dynamic interactive plenary sessions; with senior decision-makers examining road transports potential, obstacles to fulfilment of that potential and the solutions. Past IRU Euro-Asian conferences have proved instrumental in helping to break down barriers between countries and promote international co-operation. Similar results can be expected from this latest event in Beijing, which will see the official departure of the Beijing-Berlin-Brussels Caravan, pilot shipment of containers of goods by road from China to Europe.

Over 900 senior government and industry leaders from China and 45 countries across the Eurasian landmass as well as North-America are scheduled to participate, including numerous road transport entrepreneurs in countries looking to do business with China. The conference is complemented by a 3'000 m2 international exhibition.

IRU - 3, rue de Varembé - CH-1211 GENEVA 20
Phone: +41 (22) 918 27 00 - Fax: +41 (22) 918 27 41

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