Historically transport has always been a driver of trade, economic growth, jobs creation and development. Nowadays it is still a crucial component of innovative, socially-oriented, dynamic and sustainable progress. The main features of modern transport are its competitiveness, accessibility, environmental and road safety.

Transport hubs and multimodal logistical centers are being built worldwide to connect people, services, producers and manufacturers. Connectivity  – national and international  - as a combination of transport, logistical, customs, financial and other services has become today’s paradigm of economic progress.

The key for achieving these goals for Russia is to increase regional connectivity by developing multivector Eurasian transport links with the world economic centers.

To fulfil this goal in May 2015 the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China signed the Joint Statement on Cooperation on Linking the Development of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Silk Road Economic Belt, which puts transport infrastructure advancement and multimodal carriages promotion at the heart of trade and investment cooperation in the region. In early February 2016, a first meeting of the Working Group on Transport and Infrastructure of the Eurasian Economic Commission took place to launch the appropriate work.

In the spirit of strengthening these efforts in October 2015 the Government of the Russian Federation has approved the Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports, adopted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, which is aimed at harmonizing and facilitating intermodal transport operations, promotion of international trade, raising of efficiency and lowering the cost of logistical services.

In this context Russia’s transit potential opens variety of opportunities for inland (rail and automobile) transportation of goods between Europe and Asia along the Eurasian international “West – East“ and “North-South” transport corridors.

Integration of Russia’s inner water ways into the system of the shipment of goods between countries of Central, South and South-East Asia on the one hand  – and Europe on the other is another highly promising tool for increasing regional and world connectivity, taking into account the operationalization of the Northeast Passage.

Russia’s airspace is used for Trans-Siberian, Trans-Polar and Cross-Polar air routes between Europe and East and South-East Asia as well as North America and South and South-East Asia.

Apart from transport’s trade and transit potential one should not forget mentioning it as an underused tool for lessening the negative impact on environment. To make Russia’s transport system more environmentally safe our country invests into increasing the use of natural gas as a motor-fuel and promotes emissions-free rail transport, intellectual transport systems in cities that help to reduce the time en-route. Thanks to local programmes, walking and cycling are gaining popularity in big cities.

Road safety is another important element of modern transport systems. On 15 April this year the UN General Assembly will take action on the draft resolution on road safety tabled by Russia. We encourage all delegations to participate in the upcoming informal consultations in New York to polish the language of the draft, which we hope, will be seconded by a vast majority of the UN member-states.

To conclude I would like to stress that ECE and its Inland Transport Committee is a unique instrument, which helps to put in place and materialize all the above-mentioned transport and connectivity development strategies. It helps all interested countries to boost its transport and trade links by developing, servicing and improving international transport conventions and regulations, which cover all aspects of inland and water transport development that I have mentioned.

Russia attaches utmost importance to ITC and will continue to be actively and positively engaged into its work for the benefit of dynamic and sustainable development and increased regional connectivity. In this connection, I would like to emphasize the importance of the sustainable transport in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the 70th United Nations General Assembly in September, 2015. The Goal 11.2 says “By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport”. Russia stands ready to cooperate with ECE and its Member-States to fulfill this commitment.