Institutional Cooperation for Eurasia Transport

Network

ASEM Symposiumon Eurasia Transport & Logistics NetworkSeoul, Republic of Korea, 9-11 September 2015

Mr. Li Yuwei, DirectorTransport Division

Eurasia Transport Corridors

Overview of Int’l Rail Transport in Asia

Extensive use in Northeast, West and Central Asia Long distance, regular services, large volume among

China, DPRK, Mongolia, Russian Federation and Central Asia

Asia-Europe container block trains Chongqing (China) - Duisburg (Germany)/Wuhan (China) - Pardubice (Czech Republic)/Chengdu (China) - Todz (Poland)/Suzhou (China) - East Europe etc.

New container block trains Istanbul (Turkey) - Tehran (I.R. Iran) - Almaty (Kazakhstan)/Istanbul (Turkey) - Tehran (I.R. Iran) - Islamabad (Pakistan)

Limited use in South and Southeast Asia Malaysia-Thailand, 4-6 freight trains per month 2 Bangladesh - India border areas, Kolkata (India)-Birgunj

(Nepal border area), Thailand - Thanaleng (Lao PDR border area), Viet Nam - China (2 lines)

International Railway Transport in Northeast Asia

Overview of Int’l Road Transport in Asia

Extensive routes or no route limitNo permit or more liberalized permit Part of Central Asia - South Caucasus - North Asia, Lao

PDR - Thailand, Lao PDR - Viet Nam Limited designated routes

Subject to permit Northeast Asia, Part of Northeast Asia - Part of Southeast

Asia, Part of Northeast Asia - Central Asia, Central Asia - Part of South Asia, Part of South Asia

Trans-loading at border crossings Most part of South Asia, Part of Southeast Asia, Part of

Northeast Asia - Part of Southeast Asia

Lack of operational connectivity Northeast - South Asia, Southeast Asia - South Asia

International Road Transportin Central & Northeast Asia

International Road Transportin South & Southeast Asia

Institutional challenges alongEurasia Land Transport Corridors

Limited geographical scope for international road transport

Many trans-loading activities at/near border crossings

Large use of single-trip road transport permit

Difficulties for drivers to obtain visas

Less harmonized documentation, standards, formalities and procedures

Complicated and lengthy formalities and procedures for crossing borders

Insufficient facilities and equipment at border crossings

Different legal regimes

Institutional Opportunities for Cooperation along Eurasia Transport Corridors

Partnership for Institutional Cooperation along Eurasia Transport Corridors

Political support: ASEM Summit Policy guidance: ASEM Transport Ministers’

meetings with support of expert group as suggested by Republic of Korea; UNESCAP Ministerial Conference on Transport

Legal frameworks and technical/operational standards: UNESCAP and UNECE

Broad partnership: Member states (public & private sectors), development banks, specialized agencies, subregional organizations and cooperation programmes/initiatives

Transforming countries’ initiatives to a shared vision

Thank you!Thank you!