Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ An international conference themed ‘Regional Transport and Logistics Cooperation – Development Road’, organized by the Ministry of Road and Transport Development and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, opened on October 19 in Ulaanbaatar.

Minister of Road and Transport Development D.Ganbat delivered an opening speech at the conference.
“Mongolia is increasing its involvement and contribution to regional and the world social and economic integration and broadening cooperation with countries in the world. The shortest route, particularly railway route connecting Asia and Europe passes through Mongolia. In the time when trade turnover volume between China and Russia as well as Asia and Europe has being tremendously raised Mongolia endeavors/ strives to take part in trade and transportation between the two neighbors, using its geographic advantage, to make transportation flow between Asia and Europe pass through Mongolia, collaborating with the neighbor countries and to join to the regional logistic network”, he said.
 
Noting the importance of developing multilateral transportation network for a socio-economic development, the Minister emphasized the expectation and significance of the Mongolia’s Development Road Program.

“The program was approved with aims to intensify infrastructure establishment in sectors such as road, transportation, energy, mining, communication, industry and tourism, to be connected with neighbors and other countries, to facilitate trade and to reduce transportation cost,” he said.
  
The conference aims to promote international and transit transport, develop economically beneficial, safe and sustainable transport service, exchange experiences with other countries and lay the foundations for implementation of major projects so as to broaden the Mongolia’s cooperation with the international community in transport sector.

The Mongolia’s Development Road Program, the current state of road and transport sector and projects to be implemented within the frameworks of Mongolia-Russia-China Economic Corridor Program are being discussed. Moreover recommendations on developing trilateral transit transport and fulfilling legal prerequisites and Belarusian experience in transit transport are on the agendas.  
  
Attendees of the conference include delegates from the Chinese Ministry of Transport, the Russian Ministries of Transport and Economic Development, customs and railway sector representatives, investors and representatives of international organizations and institutions such as World’s Road Transport Organization (IRU), the Organization for Co-operation between Railways (OSJD), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the China Development Bank.
 
The participants are also discussing projects in the scope of the Eurasian Economic Union and its correlation with the Trilateral Economic Corridor, economic cooperation with third countries, infrastructure investment into the central transit transport corridor, railway projects, existing challenges and solutions. The conference will continue until October 20.

B.Ooluun