Belarus is banking on cooperation with European partners in the
modernization of its transport infrastructure, Belarus' Prime Minister
Andrei Kobyakov said at the ministerial conference on connectivity and
compatibility in the region of the Central European Initiative “Wider
Connectivity in the CEI Region: Building Bridges between Europe and
Asia” in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative on 8 June, BelTA has
learned.
For Belarus, the presidency in the Central European Initiative in
2017 provides an opportunity to present the country's interests in the
modernization of transport infrastructure, which is to make part of the
European transport system.
“We hope that Belarus' cooperation with the European countries and
international financial organizations in the transport sector will help
modernize the border transport infrastructure and eliminate existing
bottlenecks at these sections that restrain transport flows. Close
cooperation will also promote the reconstruction of roads making part of
international transport corridors and increase the travel speed on
them,” noted Andrei Kobyakov.
The prime minister also emphasized the need to modernize inland
waterway infrastructure and create conditions for the traffic of
river-sea navigation vessels from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.
The Belarusian head of government believes that the investment
potential of the European Union is not used in Belarus to the full. The
adoption of the External Investment Plan proposed by the European
Commission and also the participation in the Connecting Europe Facility
may provide certain opportunities for Belarus to attract European
financial resources for the implementation of transport and logistics
projects. “I hope that the joint addressing of issues in the area of
transport and its infrastructure will help synchronize our efforts,
enhance the sustainability of the transport system on the European
continent and mobility of the citizens of our countries,” said Andrei
Kobyakov.
According to the PM, the CEI Ministerial Conference in Belarus fully
meets the multi-pronged policy pursued by the country. Andrei Kobyakov
thanked representatives of the transport, financial, banking and public
organizations who have come to Belarus to exchange opinions on the
development of the transport sector and its infrastructure in Eurasia.
“A lot has been done in this direction. Great motorways have been built.
Railways are modernized and further developed, including their
electrification. Conditions have been created for an unimpeded movement
of goods. However, the modern globalization level of the world economy
sets forth even more complicated tasks before us in increasing the
travel speed of cargo and passenger flows. The tasks need the
unification of efforts of many countries,” Andrei Kobyakov said.
Minsk plays host to the ministerial conference on connectivity and
compatibility in the region of the Central European Initiative “Wider
Connectivity in the CEI Region: Building Bridges between Europe and
Asia” in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative. Thematic panel
discussions are focused on the modernization of transport and logistics
infrastructure in the context of the EU strategies for the development
of trans-European transport corridors involving the resources of
international financial institutions; facilitation of trade through the
harmonization of customs, rules of origin and value appraisal
procedures, tariff and non-tariff regulation, industrial, sanitary and
phytosanitary standards (including in the context of building the
cooperation between the EU and EAEU).
The conference is also discussing the promotion of the concept of
so-called digital transport corridors through the development of
paperless trade systems, mutual recognition of electronic shipping
documents, online sales platforms for small and medium-sized business,
cross-border digital services.
The ministerial conference is held under the aegis of Belarus' presidency in the CEI.
Written by belta.by