The Second Eurasian Connectivity and Industrial Cooperation Forum, organised by FERRMED, was held in Brussels on 21-22 November and was focused on the trans-Eurasian Silk Road railway land bridge and new challenges for the infrastructure, operation and rolling stock within the routes between Europe and Asia.

 

The Forum at Brussel’s BEL Conference Centre gathered more than 150 representatives and experts from embassies, transport, logistics and trade companies, noteworthy institutions, organisations and associations from across Eurasia, to include those from the OSJD member countries - Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, OSJD observer - DB Schenker, OSJD affiliated enterprises - UTLC ERA, RUT (MIIT), as well as OSJD Committee, CCTT and FERRMED. The Forum’s conclusions were presented at the European Parliament premises on 22 November.

 

The Forum was backboned on two events held in July 2018 in China being of major importance for the world logistics:

 

- the 20th EU-China Summit in Beijing. FERRMED welcomed the Summit’s Joint Statement and is in full accord with the EU-China Connectivity Platform initiative;

 

- the First Eurasian Connectivity and Industrial Cooperation Forum, jointly organised by FERRMED and the People’s Government of Zhengzhou.

 

On the first day of the Forum - 21 November 2018 - a conference was held on the subject “Business-oriented approach to the development of the EU/Eurasia core network to optimize the global supply chain within the framework of the One Belt - One Road Initiative”, where the forum participants, including from the part of the OSJD Committee, delivered presentations and reports on various aspects relating to the international railway freight traffic in Eurasia. There were discussions in many aspects, which contributed to a more detailed understanding of the presented material and exchange of experience.

 

On 22 November 2018, the second day of the Forum, the session entitled “Critical Success Factors for a Competitive Railway Freight System) was held in the European Parliament, where Juan Amoros, President of the FERRMED Association, presented the results of the Forum’s previous day aimed at strengthening the trans-Eurasian and trans-European railway system. Among those present were Vice-President of the European Parliament Bogusław Liberadzki, Director of Land Transport of the European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) Elizabeth Werner, Executive Director of the European Railway Agency Josef Doppelbauer, Secretary General of the European Sea Ports Organisation Isabelle Ryckbost and others.