Memorandum on creation Belarus – Russia – Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan intl transport corridor signed in Tashkent
On November 1, the capital of Uzbekistan hosted the 1st International Transport Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). A memorandum of understanding on creation and development of the Belarus – Russia – Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan international transport corridor was signed during it, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Vice Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Talgat Lastayev, who led the country's delegation at the forum, addressed the panel discussion themed “Countries' potential in development of transport and logistics sector in SCO space.”
In his speech, Talgat Lastayev emphasized historical, economic and cultural importance of the SCO, as well as huge transport and logistics potential of the member countries in building and using of the Eurasian transit corridors. He spoke about the results achieved by Kazakhstan in development of the region's transport and transit potential, and promising steps outlined in Kazakhstan’s 2030 Concept of Transport and Logistics Potential Development. Special attention was given to the TMTM project.
As transport becomes increasingly more multimodal and new opportunities arise to improve the existing and to develop new Euro-Asian transport networks, the East-West multimodal transport communication can play an important role in the future. Our region is a key one connecting Europe and East Asia. It is also an important region for China’s One Belt, One Road and Europe’s Global Gateway initiatives, noted Talgat Lastayev.
He added that Kazakhstan is working on the issues of mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of Southeast Asia in terms of increasing the transit of goods to the European markets and Central Asia through the terminal in Lianyungang seaport, in Jiangsu Province, China.
A number of documents was signed on the sidelines of the event. Talgat Lastayev took part in signing of a memorandum of understanding on creation and development of the Belarus – Russia – Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan – Afghanistan – Pakistan international transport corridor.