On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation I welcome the participants, guests and organizers of the International Geopolitical Symposium "1520: Strategic Dialogue".

Fast, reliable and safe cargoes and people relocation is the task of utmost importance of the general transport policy of the member states of the “1520 Area” partnership.

International transport corridors is the integrated component of the global economy. Railways with the 1520 gauge have the huge potential for the development of the transport corridors and Eurasian economic links. The realization of this potential is the important task for all the parties involved.

I hope the discussion of the perspectives of the transport development, priorities of the transport policy of the member-states of the “1520 Area” Partnership, geopolitical, social, economic and other aspects of the development of international transport corridors, of the integrative role of the Russian Railways at the Symposium will be fruitful.

I am positive the Symposium is an important business event to further promote partnership between the member-states of the “1520 Area”.