European Road Network to Extend to Central Asia, Caucasus: UNECEThe "E" (European) road network will extend to the borders of China after all countries concerned have agreed to designate as "E" roads a set of newly identified international roads in the Caucasus and Central Asia, said a press release issued Friday by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).The extended itineraries will include the west-east reference roads from Brest, France to Irkeshtam, at the border between Kyrgyzstan and China; from Calais, France to Leninogorsk, Kazakhstan, which may be considered as the new Silk Road, said the release. They also include the north-south road from Chelyabinsk, Russia to Nizhiniy Panj, at the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. UNECE officials said that the extension marked an important milestone in UNECE's endeavor to integrate the transport networks of its Caucasus and Central Asian member countries into European transport networks. According to UNECE, the "E" road network, which now covers more than 150,000 kilometers, comprises all roads of international importance in Europe. UNECE officials said that the new "E" roads will greatly facilitate international transport and trade with Central Asian countries, thereby fostering the integration of the economies of these countries into the European economy. UNECE groups all European countries, the United States, Canada, Israel and the Republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia. |
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