The Government aims to turn Hungary into a key transit country for East-West transport, State Secretary Péter Szijjártó said in Budapest on Friday.

Addressing the 22nd plenary session of the Coordinating Council on Trans-Siberian Transportation (CCTT), the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations said Hungary should intensify efforts made in the area of international cargo transport and make better use of its access links to the Trans-Siberian Railway.

To achieve this aim, three major resources should be utilised: Hungary's geographical location and terrain, its advanced infrastructure and the Government's political commitment to upgrading the rail network, the State Secretary said.

Mr. Szijjártó noted that the construction of the "V0" ring track, a 113 km long double-track railway route intended solely for the purposes of rail freight traffic south of Budapest, is an extremely important investment, which is expected to ease traffic on the railway system in the Budapest area as well as to increase freight traffic and significantly reduce transit times.

In addition, he said that thanks to the agreement concluded between Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) and Russain Railways (RZD), Hungary will soon occupy a leading position within the Central European freight transit system.

The Government is committed to the development of the rail network, and the increasing of rail services between Europe and the Far East is in line with Hungary’s opening to the East policy.

(Prime Minister’s Office)