Honorable Mr.Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia,

Esteemed delegates,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to extend my warmest greetings to all of you and to attend 4^th ASEM Transport ministerial meeting under the theme of “Bringing Asia and Europe through integrated Transport connectivity and synergized regional strategic plans” with the goals to shape and deepen the perception of newly planning Asia, Europe transport integrated system.

Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the Ministry of Road and Transport Development of Mongolia, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Government and the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia for outstanding organization of this ministerial meeting.

Beyond the geographical situation of the countries, the role of transport sector is increasing tremendously in regional and interstate economic cooperation and interconnectivity.

The shortest road and railway routes between Asia and Europe lie through Mongolia. In the dramatic increase of trade turnover between China and Russia, Asia and Europe, Mongolia not only strives to render transport and trade service to our neighbours using its unique geographical advantage but also keen to be connected to the regional logistic network through its increasing transit potential working together with two big neighbours.

Mongolia, as a landlocked country, attaches great importance to the development of its multimodal transport system and transit capacity as priority and key sector to sustainable social and economic growth.

Within this priority, Mongolia provides open and consistent policy towards trade facilitation, enhancing transit corridors to the sea ports and implementing big infrastructure projects like new railway corridor, improvement of road system,  new international airport and regional integrated logistics centers.

Mongolia became a full-pledged member of ASEM during 7^th High level meeting of ASEM leaders in Beijing in 2008. Since then Mongolia is taking active participation in ASEM meeting and developing bilateral and regional its cooperation with member economies based on mutual respect and equal partnership aiming to address political, economic and social challenges of Asia and Europe.

I am pleased to note that the successful hosting and organization of 11^th ASEM Summit in Mongolia last year in 2016 was great impact to Mongolia as a country connecting and located between Asia and Europe in terms of great importance and deep understanding.

I am confident that Transport sector interconnectivity which was stated in the declaration of 11^th ASEM summit shall be main topic of today’s meeting and widely discussed.

Within regional transport integration framework, with the kind assistance of UNESCAP, Mongolia, Russia and China concluded “multilateral Intergovernment agreement of road transportation along Asian highway system” in December 2016 in Moscow. Mongolia believes this was our important contribution to the common goal of bridging Asia and Europe. Also, I would like to underline this multilateral intergovernmental agreement is open for other regional countries for accession.

Under the economic corridor program of Mongolia, Russia and China, Mongolia’s Development road project, Euroasian economic union, China’s Belt and Road initiative, we are witnessing that Asia and Europe becoming more interconnected and closer than never before.

Esteemed Delegates,

I am delighted to express my satisfaction as 4^th ASEM transport Ministers’ meeting is truly important event that gathering regional countries, international stake holders, at one place to increase the participation of private sector representatives in order to discuss strategic planning to harmonize and shape regional transport policy 

I hope we could definitely successfully reach our goal through accumulating our efforts, contribution, capacity and new ideas into the prosperity of our people.

Mongolia as the shortest route connecting Asia and Europe should be surely developing cooperation with all countries to improve regional transport system connectivity.

I wish to extend my appreciation to all of you and success to this meeting.

Thank you for attention.