The First Meeting of China-Central Asia Transport Ministers was held in Beijing on September 25. The meeting was chaired by Li Xiaopeng, Minister of Transport of China. Karabayev, Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan; Tekebaev, Minister of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan; Ibrohim, Minister of Transport of Tajikistan; Anayev, Deputy Director of the Transport and Communications Agency of Turkmenistan; Makhkamov, Uzbekistan Transport Minister, each led their respective delegations to attend the meeting. The ministers of the six countries reviewed, approved and signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing the Mechanism of the China-Central Asian Transport Ministers’ Meeting, formally established the Mechanism of the China-Central Asian Transport Ministers’ Meeting.
Minister Li Xiaopeng pointed out in his speech that the establishment of the China-Central Asia Ministerial Conference on Transportation is an important measure to implement President Xi Jinping's speech at the China-Central Asia Summit and strengthen the construction of mechanisms in transport between China and Central Asia. China and Central Asian countries have deepened practical cooperation in transport, and steadily improved infrastructure capabilities in recent years. The China-Europe and China-Central Asia Railway Express have become stable and efficient, and international road transportation has become smoother. Significant progress has been made in the "Silk Road in the air".
To give full play to the role of the mechanism of the Ministerial Conference on Transportation and jointly deepen and solidify transport cooperation, Minister Li Xiaopeng put forward four initiatives. First, strengthen the connection of strategic planning and maintain the coordination and sustainability of regional transport development. Second, strengthen the "hard connection" of infrastructure, and jointly promote the construction of transportation infrastructure. Third, strengthen the "soft connection" of institutional rules, and promote cooperation in transportation facilitation, standardization, information technology and technological innovation. Fourth, strengthen the "heart-to-heart connection" of transportation integration and give full play to the role of China's international sustainable transportation innovation and knowledge center as a high-end humanistic training platform, creating a closer partnership in transportation cooperation.
The transport ministers of the five countries highly appreciated China's hosting of the first China-Central Asia Transport Ministers' Conference and positively evaluated the results of the practical cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries in transport. They expressed their willingness to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state and strengthen cooperation in such areas as transportation infrastructure construction, transportation facilitation, technological innovation, and sustainable development, jointly deepen and solidify regional cooperation in transportation.
Source from: China Traffic News