In the welcome address to Forum participants, Batyr Niyazliyev, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan underlined the importance of this event, as it is mass media that are considered to be a fundamental tool in outlining the main directions of cooperation development.

He noted that, following the initiative of Turkmenistan, the United Nations General Assembly in December 2015 adopted the second resolution on transport perspective development, and according to this document, in late November this year Ashgabat is to host the First Global Conference on Sustainable Transport. With the purpose of providing proper preparations for this forthcoming forum, HE President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov took a decision to establish an organisational committee.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan together with the UN Department on Economic and Social Affairs and the International Road Union prepared a preliminary programme for the conference. Within the framework of the Conference it is also planned to organise a Transport Business Summit with participation of the UN Secretary General, Ministers of Transport from all over the world, heads of the international transport organisations, including OSJD.

In addition to the plenary meetings and problem-oriented sessions it is supposed to include some other events, such as a road transport and equipment exhibition, thematic presentations, ceremonies of signing international documents, bilateral and multilateral meetings and negotiations.

It is also proposed to include a wide range of issues into the agenda of the Conference. Among them there are: sustainable transport and environmental changes, power production and transport, city transport system and road-transport communications between the cities and villages, investments into the transport branch and its financing, international cooperation in the transport sphere and its legal basis, development of multilateral transport corridors and their infrastructure, traffic safety. Following the outcomes of the Conference a final document is planned to be adopted which will be in the form of a declaration of the countries aimed at further development of sustainable transport meeting the requirements and challenges of today.

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan noted that HE Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, President of Turkmenistan outlined the main objectives for the cooperation development in transport and communications sector in modern conditions for the purpose of providing global sustainable transport.

The Head of State and the Government of Turkmenistan attach great value to the forthcoming Transport Forum urged to play an important role in the development of mutually beneficial international cooperation in this strategic direction.

Reports and presentations at the Forum were delivered by the senior officials of the governmental bodies of Turkmenistan, representatives of international organisations, higher educational institutes of Turkmenistan:

- UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary Andrey Vasilyev – on the UNECE activities aimed at the development of sustainable transport;

- Head of UNESCAP Subregional Department Tiziana Bonapaca – about the development of transport system in the Eurasian area, ensuring high level of security, environmental protection and effectiveness;

- General Delegate, Head of the Permanent Mission of the International Road Union in Eurasia Dmitry Cheltsov – on the Union’s activities in the field of road transport development in the region and on the IRU initiatives in the preparation for the Global Conference on Sustainable Transport in November 2016;

- the director of department of external relations and legal relations of International Maritime Organization Frederik Joseph Kenny – about the development of maritime transport, including connection of the Caspian seaports of Turkmenistan to the Black Sea with an exit to the Mediterranean Sea and further to the Atlantic Ocean;

- Secretary of OSJD Committee Attila Kiss – about the activities of the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways towards the development of international railway traffic between Europe and Asia, operation of OSJD railway transport corridors, to include those crossing the territory of Turkmenistan;

- Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Vang Kayven – about the SCO objectives aimed at strengthening not only safety and cooperation in the region, but also to develop economic and transport relations as well;

- Chief of Foreign Economic Relations of the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan – about the implementation of construction projects of new railway lines, development of freight and passenger railway traffic.

The reports of other conference participants and panel discussions were devoted to the issues relating to the progress and prospects of interaction and development of different modes of transport for the purpose of their more effective operation in the interests of the growing goods exchange and economic prosperity.

On 17 September a solemn ceremony for the opening of a new international airport in the city of Ashgabat was held in the morning, which was inter alia attended by the Forum participants.

The ceremony was opened by HE Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, President of Turkmenistan who dwelt in his address to the numerous foreign guests from different countries and Ashgabat inhabitants on the major issues of country’s transport complex development. The ceremony participants headed by the President of Turkmenistan examined the newly constructed white-bird-shaped building of the airport and the premises inside it. The new terminal, which has already found international recognition for its grandiosity and hugeness, amazes with its beauty, irregular and original architectural solutions, vastness of premises and space. It is destined to become a new transport air gate of Turkmenistan ensuring growing economic, trade and cultural relations of the country.