On 28 October 2020, the eighth meeting of SCO Ministers of Transport under Russian Minister of Transport Yury Tsvetkov's chairmanship took place via videoconference.
Deputy Secretary-General Sherali Saidamir Jonon delivered welcoming remarks on behalf of SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov.
He noted that SCO specialised ministries' work to digitalise the transport sector, establish "green corridors" for transit cargo shipments as well as approved transport and transit policy in the SCO space in form of the single cargo flow monitoring system, established information exchange between the member countries and unification of customs and phytosanitary demands will help achieve higher efficiency of multilateral cooperation in transport and logistics.
The Deputy Secretary-General stressed that the implementation of agreements reached as part of the SCO member states Agreement on Facilitation of International Road Transport will be a vivid example of the true "Shanghai spirit" of the organisation and an important contribution to improving relations in the transport sector.
During the meeting, the parties discussed coordinated work as part of implementing the Programme of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation in Transport and Logistics.
The heads of delegations spoke in favour of stepping up joint work to develop existing and create new multimodal transport corridors including the upgrade of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Baikal-Amur Mainline and beginning of construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.
The importance of introducing digital technologies in the transport sector and cooperating with customs, phytosanitary and other controlling bodies when organising international transport, including transit, was recognised.
The participants focused on the SCO member states' efforts to counter the spread of coronavirus in the transport sector.
It was confirmed that the next transport meeting will take place in Tajikistan in 2021. Exact date and venue will be agreed separately.
Minutes were signed following the meeting.