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The sessions of the International Euro-Asian Transport Conference began in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, May 12. Heads and experts of transport departments from over 30 countries of CIS, Europe and Asia, representatives of financial circles and international organizations gathered in the Taurida Palace. The purpose of the conference is to discuss further steps to extend and develop traditional connections between Europe and Central as well as South-East Asia and the Far East, and to evaluate the results of decisions adopted at previous transport forums. The current exchange of opinions is especially important for Russia, and for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region, in particular. According to the talk given at the opening of the conference by Mr. Hahn, head of Russia's EU representation, Russia, due to its geographic position, is a key link in the development of transport connections between Europe and Asia. The same idea was expressed by many of the participants. One may say that the concept of Russia being a barrier protecting European civilization has turned today into a bridge, not a wall, between East and West. Russia is becoming a place for extending political, economic and institutional connections between them, which is vitally important for the world at large. Russia's geographic position is not the only factor that makes that possible. The conference discussed not only the construction of new routes to the West or to the East, but also the effective and skillful use of everything created in the country over the entire period of its existence. A well-developed network of railways in the European part of Russia, the Trans Siberian and Baikal-Amur railways, the ports on the Black and Baltic Seas, as well as those on numerous rivers of Russia, "river-sea" ships that can carry cargo not only to inland ports, but also to ports on outer seas and long-distance motor and air thoroughfares. According to the speakers at the conference the entire transport network of Russia possesses great potential; it should be adapted to the needs and requirements of the leading world carriers.
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