Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a welcome message to the participants of the ministerial conference on transport of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), pointing to the priority of the regional transport cooperation. The president's message has been published on the official website of the Kremlin. "The unique geographical scope of the Asian-Pacific region, its vast demographical, economic and transit potential emphasizes the need to form an effective and integrated transport system in this part of the world," the message reads. The conference's agenda includes a number of pressing issues related to improving the legal framework on international transport, the introduction of new materials and technologies as well as the possibilities of expanding transport networks and connecting them to the infrastructure set up in other regions. The Russian president said the ESCAP initiative to establish a council on cooperation in the field of the Eurasian transport ties was very important and timely, it "could ensure coordination with various international bodies responsible for transport issues in Asia and Europe." The Russian leader noted with confidence that "teamwork will reinforce mutually beneficial international cooperation and speed up social and economic development both in Eurasia and beyond." The ESCAP ministerial conference on transport is being held in Moscow on December 5-9.
