This virtual event, prepared in the spirit of cooperation and solidarity between the UIC long term Partners UNESCAP and OSJD, was hosted in Bangkok on 7 – 8 July 2020.
Jointly prepared by MM. Sandeep Jain of UNESCAP and Nikolay Nuyanzin of OSJD, and moderated by Mrs Azhar Jaimurzina Ducrest of UNESCAP, it allowed about 24 experts from 13 different countries from Asia and Europe to present interesting and relevant papers on the current situation in the Asia Pacific Region, battered by the current Covid-19 pandemic (in terms of policy responses and experience faced by railways, and also in view of enhancing the sustainability of railway transport and reporting on the latest development in electronic information exchange among railways and between railways and control agencies).
The Opening Session was addressed by MM. Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, Tadeusz Szozda, Chairman of OSJD Committee (video message), Hadi Soleimanpour, Secretary General of ECO and François Davenne, Director General of UIC, who gave a presentation on the latest activities undertaken by the UIC Covid-19 Task Force, recalling the joint efforts made by 70 UIC members, together with 18 international organisations, in order to set up new safety measures, rules and regulations, building RAILsilience together, and restoring confidence in rail travel.
Mr Jerzy Wisniewski, Director of Fundamental Values at UIC, also presented the latest UIC initiatives undertaken for enhancing the sustainability of railways and providing smart solutions for railway transport.
Several projects, like LOWNOISEPAD (noise and vibration), REUSE (sustainable land use), CLEAN AIR, SFERA (energy efficiency), ECOSCORING (financing for “green” railway projects – directly related to 6 U.N. SDGs), among others, were presented. The Railway Climate Declaration (New 2019 Pledge) was been recalled on this occasion.
The two half-a-day sessions were attended by 120 representatives from 25 member countries of both UNESCAP and OSJD (government agencies and operators), as well as 11 international organisations, including UIC.
