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Korea Attends Organization for Cooperation of Railways Summit Meeting for First Time as Regular Member
- Successfully bid for 2023 OSDJ Summit Meeting at the Uzbekistan Summit -
□ MOLIT (Minister Kim Hyun-mee) announced that the Republic of Korea successfully bid to host the 51st OSJD Summit (2023) at the 47th OSJD summit being held at Tashkent, Uzbekistan from June 4 to 7, 2019.
□ The Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD) is an international organization that was established in June 1956 for international railway operation between Europe and Asia, and it oversees international railway transportation agreements and establishes rules for international transportation standards.
ㅇ There are 29 regular member states in the OSDJ such as Russia, China, Mongolia and North Korea, and 45 affiliate companies made up of railway operations companies and seven observer companies to cooperate in the Eurasia railway and operation and technology sectors.
ㅇ The Republic of Korea was voted unanimously by all member nations at the 46th OSDJ Summit held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on June 7, 2018 to become the 29th regular member nation.
□ The 47th OSJD Summit is the first summit that Korea attended as a regular member of the OSJD and ministry-level delegates from 24 countries including Second Vice Minister for Transport Kim Kyung-wook of MOLIT and representatives from relevant international organizations such as the UIC (International Union of Railways), EEC (Eurasian Economic Commission), and the secretary general of the OECD ITF (International Transport Forum).
ㅇ A total of 14 agendas were discussed at this summit such as ① venue for hosting future OSJD summits, ② joining of the Republic of Korea in SMPS and SMGS, ③ results of the 2018 OSJD activities, ④ OSJD work programs after 2020.
ㅇ The Korean delegation (senior delegate: Vice Minister of Transport Kim Kyung-wook) worked hard to bid for the 51st OSJD summit, and thus successfully won the bid to host the 51st OSJD summit meeting for 2023.
- In addition, support from other member nations for Korea to join the Direct International Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Rail and Procedure Instruction (SMPS) and the Agreement on Direct International Goods Transport by Rail and Procedure Instruction (SMGS), and it was agreed to proceed with subscription procedures such as OSJD commission and member states.
ㅇ In addition, the Korean representatives also held a bilateral meeting with the Russian delegation (senior delegate: Russia Transport Vice Minister Vladimir Tokarev) to explain the East Asia Railway Community that the Korean government is pursuing and requested that Russia would attend the GICC to be held in Seoul in September for additional discussions.
- Russia expressed their positive support and intent to participate on plans to pursue with the East Asia Railway Community, and agreed to discuss detailed plans in the future GICC meeting.
□ Vice Minister of Transport Kim Kyung-wook said, “As it has been decided to hold the 51st OSJD Summit scheduled in 2023 in Korea, we will make thorough preparations to successfully host the meeting and we will continue to draw up cooperation plans for international railway transportation among member countries.”
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